Every Picture Tells A Story: Nevada Bob's 50 Years with the Wrong Woman Is Visual as Well as Verbal Storytelling

That Nevada Bob Gordon lived an uncommon life only makes sense when you consider his uncommon roots. When I read this story of Bob and his grandmother Emily (pictured here) on a flight to Reno, I quickly understood where Bob gets his sense of humor. Here are two excerpts from chapter 2 in his book.

Soon after we (Carol and I) moved into our new home, I was approached by my grandmother Emily Sharp. Emily was a young-appearing, attractive woman in her early 60s. She wanted to fly to Reno, Nevada, so she could gamble because she loved bingo games. Her husband, Bill Sharp, was working on a job that took him out of the country for extended periods of time, so she asked me to accompany her to Reno.

Carol was not interested in the slightest in coming with us. This enabled us to take advantage of a particularly lucrative package offered by Reno Casinos; soon, Emily had arranged for us to fly as man and wife. During the flight, the stewardesses treated me with a fair amount of disdain. I don’t know how they made the connection or assumption that this young man married a wealthy woman, but they definitely had, and throughout the flight they made me very uncomfortable with their glares.

When we finally reached our destination, at our hotel, a young lady got out of the vehicle with us. Trying to be polite, I carried the young lady’s luggage as well as mine and Emily’s into the hotel. I think the girl assumed I was flirting with her. After checking in, the clerk said aloud, “Mr. and Mrs. Gordon, you have room 114.” The girl looked at us in disbelief.

My crazy grandmother, looking over her shoulder as we walked away, said, “It’s okay honey, he only married me for my money.”

My grandmother Emily was a real character, and someone I really loved.

Bob's grandmother Emily wasn't the only character in his gene pool. Her husband Jimmy Espy was equally so, a performer whose entertainment skills once carried him into the White House. Here's how Nevada Bob explains it. 

After graduating from high school, I lived with my grandmother, Emily Sharp. Now Emily had married a very good-looking man by the name of Jimmy Espy when she was 19 years old. He was to become a dancer, an adagio dancer, the type who danced with two very attractive women. He performed for President Roosevelt at the White House on one occasion. Much to Emily’s disappointment, Jimmy ran off with one of his girls when my mom was 10 years old. He returned in the late 1960s to see my mother, his long-abandoned daughter, but Mom always loved him anyway.

Jimmy Espy and his dancing partners.

Rugged, resilient and authentic, Nevada Bob tells it like it was, except for the ironical title, which is tongue in cheek. From playful Navy man to crooked cop, lumber mill operator, oil man, gold assayer, and rancher to unstoppable and determined husband and father, he was ever inspired by the love of his life.

Nothing here is embellished to make it more novel. This might be your next favorite book. More than 45 photos included to give readers a better idea of the life he lived.

NOW AVAILABLE HERE ON AMAZON.COM.

Or ask for it at your favorite bookstore. Stores and 

libraries can acquire it through IngramSpark. 

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EdNote: Nevada Bob will be planning another road tour. If you'd like to have him 

speak at one of your events, send a note to paradise145@yahoo.com

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