Linda Hall’s Story of how she was influenced by Nana, Grampa & Dad

I was six years old when my Grampa described his wish for my future.  “You will become a medical secretary!!” he stated emphatically on a number of occasions.  I was not sure how a medical secretary differed from a regular secretary but based on what I had heard from my mother (a secretary prior to marriage) a job as a typist did not sound like much fun.  But…I loved having Grampa’s attention so I worked diligently to reach this goal and make him proud.  During first grade when everyone was starting with “run Jane run,” I was learning how to spell and define words like castration, hysterectomy and expectorate. Every Saturday at 228 Main Street, Grampa would administer verbal quizzes to test my retention.  I always passed with flying colors and begged for more. Weekly Grampa would shop at the bookstore and buy one or more books covering every imaginable topic.  My father’s office became a small library. On most days after school through bedtime I opted to keep my nose in a book in lieu of watching the popular kids shows.

 

In addition to being my first teacher, my Grampa was a genius. He was a life long learner and veterinarian who in 1975 cured cancer in a greyhound through a diet of raw fish and selenium.  Every Saturday morning I observed closely while assisting Grampa as he skillfully performed surgeries on cats and dogs. I held the animal’s legs while Nana stood by dispensing the ether after calming down the sobbing owner who waited anxiously in the next room. 

 

Grampa’s second love was raising greyhounds and racing them at the Topsfield fairgrounds where he moonlighted as the track’s veterinarian.  He let me name some greyhounds, always bet $2 on the dog of my choice and bought me jelly donuts at the food stand when we arrived early on crisp spring mornings. The dog’s winnings went to a college fund for his five grandchildren.  Grampa was happiest when he was with family and animals, he lived what he loved.

 

His wife, known to me as Nana was a pleasantly plump woman who found the good in everyone and everything. Although she worked hard helping with the business and managing a household, she loved life and was never without a smile. While in her late 70’s she was hit by a car while out for her daily walk.  As she lay in her hospital bed with a bruised body, she recounted how fun it was to go flying up in the air when the car struck her. “I was higher than the car roof!! It was sooooooo exciting,” she giggled. On another occasion, while in her late 80’s she decided to take the bus a few stops away to visit my dad who was hospitalized with cancer.  Several hours later she was nowhere to be found. My entire family was panic stricken.  Finally to our relief she arrived. She was happy as a clam.  Nana had taken the wrong bus and had traveled for hours having to change buses a few times to find her way back home with the help of some friendly bus drivers.  “The best part”, she exclaimed, “was that I got to see the ocean, and the whole trip only cost me a dime!!”  

 

Nana was an incredible painter and a baker.  We spent Saturday afternoons making toll house cookies, licking spoons and bowls, making mock-cherry pies, cream cheese and cherry sandwiches, knitting, crocheting, painting and taking trips to Boston where we sailed on swan boats and walked the Freedom Trail.  Sadly, Grampa died unexpectedly in 1976.  Nana spent the next 25 years exploring the world making up for her vacation free life by visiting everyplace imaginable from Alaska to Europe. 

 

Although Grampa died when I was 13, his son who was my Dad continued to promote learning.  His forte was science projects and math homework. Together we built a real volcano, a working radio and a spectroscope.  He was one of the few Dads in the world who “got” Calculus. 

 

When I was 12, I followed in Nana’s footsteps by taking art lessons. I recently found several of my drawings dated in the 1970’s.  They were amazing.  I do not recall having that much talent. I was a pleaser.  When I presented a report card of straight A’s I got a pat on the head, an “attaboy” and a few dollars as a reward.  When I brought home a beautiful painting there was no recognition.  This was not surprising as my mother had passed up a fully paid four year scholarship to art school as she was certain that her foster mother would not allow her to attend. My passions grew to become math and science.

 

Nana also influenced me by planting the seed of wanting to see the world. As soon as I secured my first “real” job, I began to tackle my travel “to do” list of far off places: I have experienced dog sledding on top of a glacier in Alaska; skied in Austria while elbowing Germans to gain my place in the unorganized lift line, celebrated the Queen’s birthday in Amsterdam by wearing an orange hat while viewing fields of bright red tulips, hiking into the Grand Canyon and stalking a bobcat while watching the Colorado flow below….always with my camera close to my side, capturing each moment as well as keeping an extensive written journal of my experiences and thoughts.   I never considered it an option to turn any of this or any other passion into a career.

 

As I approached college age in 1980, I began to realize that there were far more career choices for woman.  I decided that if my grandfather were alive he would have understood if I chose to become something other than a medical secretary.  I think his intent was that I become an independent successful career woman.    I thought that I might like to become a psychiatrist. My Dad who was a self-taught engineer working in Honeywell’s defense division determined that an accounting degree would be my best choice since finance professionals were among the most highly compensated in his company.  I attempted to change his mind to no avail. It was quickly evident that I did not get a vote. 

 

Dad (also a genius) loved to tinker with anything electronic.  He took things apart to figure out how they worked.  When our television had a problem he would pull out a sautering gun, replace some wires and the problem was solved.  At a very young age he converted his passion into an engineering career.  His second love was introduced to us during our annual two week vacation. The beauty of the White Mountains and the joys of hiking, skiing and nature watching became passions.  During one of these trips he attempted to make us homemade sloppy joes but mixed in a whole head of garlic mistaking it for a garlic clove…