The Oral History of the Mos Eisley Cantina, Part II

We left off with the oral history of the Mos Eisley Cantina talking about how Boz bought the bar and how the Colonel discovered the bar. Today I look at how Grandpa and the war vets father and son tandem discovered the bar.

When I first started frequenting Mos Eisley Cantina I noticed this old man sitting at the corner of the bar by himself drinking a Vodka cranberry. I call him Grandpa because he looks just like the Grandpa from the Munsters. I'm pretty sure his grandson is Eddie Munster Billy Donovan. Before I get sidetracked, I always wanted to know Grandpa's backstory. I discovered he has quite the story, to at least me.

III. "The cranberry helps me digest my meals and the Vodka gives me a buzz."-Grandpa

Grandpa (Retired PG&E Employee): I started frequenting the Mos Eisley Cantina before the Boz bought the bar. The PG&E crew that I worked with would come here after work and have drinks. I've been coming back ever since even though while my former co-workers stopped coming because they're either dead or retirement homes.

Boz: I remember when I would come in here as a patron and see Grandpa sitting in the corner. Back then though he drank Budweiser.

Grandpa: I started drinking Vodka Cranberry's about five years ago because my doctor told me I shouldn't drink as much beer because it was making me fatter. The doctor said the cranberry is good for my blood pressure and the Vodka is less fattening. I really think the doctor is full of crap though. I drink the Vodka Cranberry's because I think they taste good.

Boz: If I remember correctly, Grandpa was once married but I believe his wife passed away about five years ago and their one child lives in Kansas. And that's the real reason why he comes back every day for he's not lonely, because he's not an drunk. I know what drunk's look like.

Grandpa: My beautiful wife died of ovarian cancer six years ago. Back then we actually lived in Lincoln. The Boz was always friendly with me and didn't mind that I took up one of the places at the bar drinking at the most four Vodka Cranberry's a day. So I eventually moved in a semi-retirement home/apartment in Rocklin which is right down the road from Mos Eisley for I can be closer to the bar. My wife and I had one daughter who now lives in Kansas teaching anthropology at Wichita State living with her husband and two children. We visit each other about three times a year and we call each other at least once a week for I can keep in touch with her and the grandchildren.


The Colonel: Grandpa usually keeps to himself whenever I'm in the bar. I thought he was a mute for a while.

Grandpa: I've always kept to myself. It's my nature to be quiet. So that's why I usually sit in the corner of the bar watching whatever is on TV. I like to observe other people's activities in the place or interact with Boz or Mrs. Boz.

Boz: He doesn't bother anyone, so I don't mind if he comes in everyday. He needs a place to keep his mind working and I'll happily oblige.

IV: "We needed to reconnect."-Senior

Junior and Senior are the father and son tandem that sit at one of the tables at Mos Eisley Cantina. They mostly sit by themselves and talk amongst themselves. Come to find out they are both army veterans with Senior fighting in Vietnam and Junior fighting in the first Gulf War. After a period of not talking with each other, they reconnected and bought their very own hardware store in Loomis. They visit Mos Eisley after 5 when they close down for they can talk about the day.

Senior (War Vet & Hardware store owner): My son and I didn't get along at all when he was a child. I didn't deal with my emotional problems after coming back to Vietnam so I was really cold around the kid.

Junior (War Vet & Hardware store owner): My father didn't want me to join the army in the late 80's. His experience in Vietnam didn't give him the best experience with the army. So we had a big blowout and didn't talk for about eight years. My situation was a little different. I wasn't going to be drafted like him and I was going to use the GI bill to go to college. Did everything I planned on doing. I served in the army, did a tour in the first Gulf War, returned home and used the GI bill to receive a degree in business from Fresno State.

Senior: It was his mother who told me I should talk to him. At the time he was working in Rocklin managing an Ace hardware. So we decided to meet at a bar he choose called the Mos Eisley Cantina.

Junior: I always drove by the place going to and from work. So I told him to meet me at Mos Eisley. He did and we talked about the past eight years and my experience with war which was vastly different than his experience.

Senior: After that we just kept coming back to Mos Eisley. Better here than at our homes where I wives could nag us.  

Junior: It was actually at Mos Eisley that I told him there was a hardware store for sale in Loomis. By then my father was semi-retired and I told him I would take care of all the business matters. All he had to do was buy in and sell tools and parts.

Senior: Perfect job for me. I worked as a parts manager for twenty years at the Ford dealership in Roseville. After work we come back to the Mos Eisley Cantina to talk about the day. We know that no will bother us here.

Junior: We frequent Mos Eisley pretty much everyday after work. Even if it's only for an half and hour. Just a place for us to talk about the day. Our wives can't nag us here.