November 13, 1913

Our neighbor... our dear friend ... part of our 'family' ... Marvin, celebrated his 95th birthday today.At 95 years old, Marvin still "goofs off" as he says. He doesn't take medicine, still drives his car and/or his pickup around town, stills splits up his wood, mows the lawn... and he's an awesome cribbage player! He said his schedule is "sleep, eat, and goof off."Tonight, as we were talking about being 95 years old, Marvin said there's been a 'lot of water under the bridge.'I started asking him a lot of questions which led to a lot of stories...Our buddy, Marvin, was born in Exeter, California. He's the middle of 5 boys: Paul, Galen, Marvin, Gerald, and Jules (but they called him Dooley.) Marvin's dad, Lester, had grape vineyards. He lost them in the depression and then went to work for the Department of the Interior as a crew chief for the conservation corps. Marvin's mom was Marguerite. Marvin told us he was "the last of the Mohicans" meaning he's the last of his brothers.I asked Marvin what was one thing that he felt was the biggest difference between his younger years and now. He didn't hesitate before he said, "Money!" He said $1 went a long way - beer was a dime, a bowl of beans, hamburger and a glass of milk cost him $0.25. It cost $0.10 to go to the show...and Marvin said he never paid over $5. for a pair of shoes. Yep, things have definitely changed. I know in previous conversations with Marvin, one of his lines he will often say when he's talking about today's prices is, "My memory is too long." In other words, he remembers those $0.25 dinners!Marvin and one of his brothers, (I think it was Galen), use to take their donkeys and pack them up into the Sierras. They would be gone for 2 weeks or so. Marvin said he thought his mom probably worried a little, but not his dad. Marvin would have been about 12 or 13 years old at the time! (Marguerite, I would definitely have been a bit worried too!)I asked Marvin about his jobs. He has done a lot of farm work: tractors, wheat harvester, tourist packer into the Sierras. He has been a truck driver, driving a big truck for about 3 years. In the 1930's he hauled oranges. The truck would go 25 mph with the truck & trailer...Marvin earned $15 a trip. (This was to southern California!) On these trips, going uphill, his truck would sometimes get down to 5 mph. Marvin would get out of the truck and run alongside it to wake up! (I wonder if Marguerite knew about that?)Marvin also said he spent some time as a 'Grease Monkey'...for $1.57 an hour! He's been a mechanic and also lived in Alaska for awhile doing construction in Nome. There he built a large government building. He also worked on a gold dredge for 2 seasons "way out in the boonies."His first job in our county was in a mill. It was an old miner mill... and he was a ratchet setter. (Ron knew just what Marvin was talking about, but I don't have a clue!)

Ron asked him how he learned to be a mechanic. "Oh just common sense.... and working with good people."

Marvin went into the Marine Corps Reserve as an Air Craft Armor. He was 27 years old. His job was to keep the machine guns firing and synchronized. Plus he had 3 planes he kept up and going. He was sent to the South Pacific in the war as part of the Dive Bomber Squadron. He was put on the repair station after he 'got back from the islands.'Marvin met the love of his life, Nell, in 1944 in San Diego. Nell was also in the Marines. She was in the squadron office and according to Marvin, "she made the mistake of delivering mail to my squadron." Marvin said when Nell came in, he told his buddy, 'I'm going to take her home." His buddy replied, "You won't even get a date with her." They were married in 1945.

In 1947, they moved to our county and bought 6.5 acres. They came here to raise Easter Lillies...however, they wouldn't grow here. So he bought a little tractor and made more money with the tractor. He eventually sold that and bought "the five acres" in 1962 for $600 an acre.

Marvin and Nell had 3 sons: Jeff, Mark, and Dave. They lost a set of twins in between Jeff and Mark - a boy and a girl.

We met Marvin and Nell a little over 20 years ago. A local contractor, Harry, wanted Marvin and Nell's 5 acres and he made them a deal. He built them a new home in the cul-de-sac where we live now. At the exact same time, we purchased land from Harry and he began to build our home too.

Harry would work a little at ours...a little at Marvin and Nell's. Nell later told me that we had gotten her bathroom linoleum. I let her know that ours had already been replaced...so she actually got the better deal! But that's how we got to know Marvin and Nell... thanks to Harry and the building of our homes.

Marvin lost the love of his life to cancer. During the time Nell was sick, we began to get closer to both of them. Since Nell left us, Marvin has become part of our 'family.' There couldn't be a better friend... a better neighbor... a better all-around wonderful man .. as Marvin. We adore him!

We love it when Marvin comes over for dinner. We've settled into a little routine:

Ron and Marvin usually have a beer at 5:30 p.m. Marvin likes Miller Genuine Draft. Ron varies his selection. There is always some trail mix and various kinds of nuts...cashews, peanuts, etc. Marvin LOVES cashews. He said he was a squirrel because he likes nuts so much!
Toasting 95 years!This is my new discovery: Mary's Gone Crackers, especially the Black Pepper variety. These crackers with Dubliner Cheese... oh my! Marvin really likes that Dubliner cheese. It's quickly being established as an accompaniment to the 5:30 p.m. beer and nuts.
Here you can see the spread. This is where we usually situate ourselves. I'm usually finishing up dinner... and eating snacks along with my guys!
After dinner, comes cribbage, of which Marvin is a master. Marvin actually "skunked" my guy tonight...not once, but twice. Must be experience!Marvin gave us a cribbage board he made... in Alaska... in... um? I think it was 1937. I'll have to double check that date. He and my guy use it when I'm not playing. (It's only for 2 players, like most cribbage boards are.)A close up of the cribbage board Marvin gave us.Rema came over and celebrated Marvin's birthday with us. I got the tripod out and took a group photo to commemorate our wonderful time celebrating with Marvin.
So, Happy 95th birthday, Marvin!