One hundred years ago, Grandpa Vayo was counting down the days until he married. He’d already moved to Paducah, Kentucky, and started his new job in advertising. He even authored a daily poetry column, Songs of Life, in The Paducah Sun newspaper.

I wonder if he warned Grandma (his betrothed, Lucie Plante) how often her new surname would be misspelled and mispronounced.

After all, “Vayo” rhymes with “mayo.”

Sometimes, the condiment won out:

This poem of Grandpa’s caught my eye and warmed my heart.

He was still a single guy, but apparently was already looking forward to having children.

Grandpa and Grandma married on Thanksgiving Day that year. Sadly, three years later, Robert – their firstborn child – only lived four days.

In 1930, Dad was born, followed by Jean, Janet, Barbara, and Paul.

Here’s Grandpa circa 1932 with Dad and baby Jean:

A generation later, Grandpa enjoyed snuggling his grandchildren in another “big chair.”

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“We Three, In One Big Chair” ©1926 Harold E. Vayo, Sr. All rights reserved.

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