November 28, 2003

The flight of Cran Marshall

Oh, hello, I am so happy to see you, There has been a lot going on and I think it is about a 90 - something or a something - 90.
I am lucky to be here now, I am glad you came, You know, its funny how you want to say something, but you just can't find the words? Well, the words are proud and time. I am so proud to know you and its time to take a little trip.



The year is 1914 and my name is Cranbrook Maslin Marshall. I am just a year old and my sister is taking notes. Our parents have a little business in London with the Sprayolite. Dad (His name is Earnest and mom is Nora) figures there will be better opportunities in the United States, so he sells the Maslin Brothers business (mom and dad). We all hop onto the SS Oceanic and we sail off to New York.

My sister, Kenzie, is seven years older and she remembers the Statue of Liberty, staying in New York and the very long trip across the United States to San Diego, California.

 Her greatest fear was missing the next ride. We came close to missing the boat in london and three months later, the SS Oceanic was torpedoed and sunk.

 World War One began in 1914 and airplanes began an important role.

Hi, I'm Crammy, we are living in San Diego, it is 1929 and my sister kids me about my name, but I don't mind. My family is doing a lot better than most of the neighborhood. We have whole potatoes to put into our soup and I am never hungry, so I feel extremely grateful. The money situation should be better any day now because the depression is running its course. After I get out of high school I would like to spend more time at the beach. I shall always remember, "Waste not, Want not." Last year a plane flew clear across the Pacific Ocean and the year before Lindy flew the first solo flight across the Pacific. WOW.

Hi, I'm Cran, I just turned 21 and the money situation is finally a little better. I have enjoyed lots of time at the beach and am proud that I have been able to help out.

The last few years of aviation have been amazing, Wiley Post and Harold Gatty flew around the world. Amelia Earhart flew solo across the Atlantic and Donald Douglas introduced the DC-3 up in Santa Monica, I am thinking of moving up there. I will always be greatful for even the smallest blessings.
 

Hello, Its 1941, I am 28 and after school and some odd jobs, I am so proud to have a job at Douglas. Most other families have or know someone in the war in Europe. Last year was the very first air battle between forces from Britain and Germany. The Japanese Air Force hurt Pearl Harbor real bad and it looks like we are in the World War Two, like it or not.

We just had a baby girl
and work is berry good,
Its true, Ma, Winnie tol' me so,
comin froo a Wood.

I am 32 now and we are still living in Santa Monica, my boy is a year old and Diane started school. The war in Europe is coming to a close and a plane called Enola Gay made quite an impression on Japan. I still wish I could have been a greater part of the war effort, but at least I am working for a great company. Boy, I guess I am very lucky, too young for WWI and too old for WWII. Douglas is opening up another plant in the midwest and needs some ideas on organizing. Something to think about.

I am 44 and we are in our second home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I am so grateful that we are in wholesome activities. We all enjoy church music, opera music, band music, scouting, rainbow, shriners, masons, sorrorities. We recently celebrated our 25 wedding anniversary and that was quite the shindig. I have been working on new materials to build better, stronger, lighter structures like airplane wings, cooking bowls and sailboards. It sure is an exciting time to be alive. We have taken trips through almost every state in the United States exploring national parks, capitols and neighboring countries. I love to take pictures and showing those slides is almost like being there again.

Its 1957 and the family is going outside this evening to watch a small silver ball go across the sky. Its called sputnik, maybe that will take Iva's mind off those cramps.

This is 1961 and it is one spacey year. Them soviets got the first man into space (Yuri something) and we have to jump into the fray and send Alan Shepard up right behind him. Diane just married a fine lad that seems like he could do anything he sets his mind to, but he sure talks funny, that is coming from an English Okie. We are going back to California soon, we hope to find better opportunities for school, work and medicine. Sure hope we can find a good scout troop to get into.

Its 1969 and Neil Armstrong took the first step on the moon, a proud moment for all. Brooks had his fourth baby and Diane her second baby three years ago. We are going to move again, trying anything and everything from the desert to the beach and up Boquet Canyon. I was able to retire from Douglas and that other company, Boeing, flew the first Jumbo Jet. It is hard to believe how much flight has come along.

Sue and I just celebrated out 5th anniversary and we have nearly flown around the world twice. I love traveling, flying, square dancing and taking pictures. Especially the grandkids. In just three years, we have traveled to Yellowstone, New Orleans, Oregon, Canada, China, Jerusalem and Hawaii. We have flown on almost every plane except the Concord, it began the first supersonic Jet transport this year, 1976. We are in Vista and will be moving to Hemit and we sure like the folks and weather here in California. The new family has welcomed me wonderfully and I am extremely proud of them.
 

This is 1983 and in honor of my 70th birthday, the United States let Miss Sally Ride be the first american female into space. The newspaper headlines read, Happy Birthday Cran, Ride, Sally Ride. ( the birthday wish was in fine print.) A while back the US put the first space shuttle Columbia into orbit and my project of converting the Pickup into an RV went well. We have traveled across the United States and Canada like it was next door and around the world like it was just down the block. Fallbrook is a great place to live.

1991 is a Palindrome. The numbers read the same forward as back. The Hubble Telescope is now in orbit, looking forward as well as far back and just as the world gets smaller, so does the universe. Genuine meekness has no relation to fear. It is rather an attitude of man cooperating with god. It embraces patience and forebearance and is motivated by an unshakable faith in a lawful and friendly universe.
 

It is now 1996 and talk about shindings, we just had our 25 wedding anniversary with many many friends, relatives, kids grandkids and parents. I am amazed at how much has happened. We had the first female pilot of the space shuttle, and there was something else, but I don't remember right now.


Oh, hello, I am so happy to see you, There has been a lot going on and I think it is about a 90 - something or a something - 90.
I am lucky to be here now, I am glad you came, You know, its funny how you want to say something, but you just can't find the words?
Well, the words are proud and time.
I am so proud to know you,
90 years, 8 months, 15 days and it is time for me to take a little trip, Thank you.