Crystal Mapes
Butterscotch candy
George Mekley was my maternal grandfather. I was only 8 when he passed away but I remember several things about him. He was very tall, always wore blue jeans overalls and always carried hard butterscotch candies in his pocket. He gave these out every time we saw him. I can also remember going with him to the place where you sell your grain...you drive the truck onto the scale, they weigh it, and then pay you. For some reason I think this was in McNabb, IL. Anyway, we went inside the establishment and they had those round suckers on a white round string in a plastic container. Grandpa let me pick one and I chose green. Now Grandpa Mekley had six grandchildren, 5 grandaughter's and one grandson. I was the second to the youngest granddaughter. Just how do you suppose I managed to be selected on that particular day to ride along with him? I like to think that even way back then he was a bit of a progressive fellow and knew that girls had every bit of potential as boys did to manage a farm.
