Grandma Mel had three great loves in her life, baseball, photography and music, she told the story of how my dad, John, was almost born in the old stadium in San Francisco because she didn't want to leave the game. (He was born at home later that evening.) She was a fan of the Seals and later the Giants. She listened to the games on the radio regularly and never passed up an opportunity to go to the ballpark to watch a game. Watching the grandchildren and great-grandchildren play was a joy for her also.

      Music was another love of hers, she married a musician for starters, F. Elmore was an organist primarily, but he played any instrument he got his hands on. He wrote her a song once. Long after his death, she encouraged anyone in the family to study music, I have a recording of her on one of the tapes she made during her visits to John and Lauretta's house. She would make a recording of John as he practiced playing the organ. He was still struggling with cords and how to read the music and play it at the same time, but she loved to listen. Here is what she said after returning from one of those sessions.

      After Mel completed the 8th grade in 1908, she took a job at Lockenwarne Drug Store. (The store was located on Market St near the Ferry Bldg in San Francisco.) The store photography dept had a one day developing and printing service which was used mostly by commuters on the ferry boats. Melva's job was to roll an enamel coating on prints to make them glossy for customers who ordered the service, then she packaged the pictures. Although she did not do any developing and printing she did learn about it during this job. She only kept the job for a short time because she decided to go back to school. She continued taking pictures her entire life. I remember as a child resenting her constant snaping of pictures, when I wasn't dressed or posed nicely, but now those old photos are a record of our early years with her, and I love them.