I'm Eric Grate and This is My Blog

Welcome! I’m glad you’re here.

Some things you won't find here include:

• heaping portions of politics

• celebrity opinions on virtually anything

• in-depth sports analysis

• makeup and hair care tips

• minding other people's business

• the Kardashians or Ye

Some things you will find here include:

• original works of fiction by yours truly

• info and updates on my collection of short stories entitled The Streets of Greenfield

• Random Thoughts and Musings

• photographs I have taken

• coffee talk

• witty banter

• human interest stuff

• culture AND no culture

• lots of sentences that begin with “Remember when”

“Eric Grate? Who is that, and why do I care what he thinks anyway?”

• I was born in Greenfield, Ohio, on October 2, 1965. I am the fourth of six sons born to my parents, Dad and Mom.

• I am a 1984 graduate of Edward Lee McClain High School, and I have completed two semesters at Southern State Community College.

• I am a Cold War veteran of the United States Marine Corps, serving with Battery D, Second Battalion, Tenth Marines, Second Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force. In addition, I served for six months in the Mediterranean Sea aboard USS Nashville (LPD-13) with Battalion Landing Team 3/6, 26th Marine Amphibious Unit, Landing Force Sixth Fleet.

• I have visited thirty - eight states and ten foreign countries.

• I am one half of the fabled “Love Brothers,” who held the GWA World Tag Team titles from 1982 to 1984.

• I wrecked every vehicle I owned between 1987 and 2004.

• I worked in the automotive industry for twenty years as a Quality Engineer.

• I am the self-proclaimed “King of the Legendary Saturday Nights.”

• I am an ordained deacon in the Southern Baptist Convention.

• I am a Master Mason in poor standing.

• I owned and operated GX2 Photography, the area's top Senior Portrait studio in Danville, KY, from 2009 to 2019.

• I owned and operated Big Jack’s Donuts & Coffee, Boyle County's Food Truck Of the Year, from 2018 to 2020.

• I founded Big Jack’s Cafe in Lawrenceburg, KY, in 2020.

• I am a master barista and coffee connoisseur.

• I have five tattoos, including two eagles.

• I have most of my natural teeth and, thanks to Dr. Charlie Boyd, a sweet set of veneers.

• I am married to Michelle. We have six kids, eight grandkids, and a mean cat named Boo Radley.

That is a somewhat tongue-in-cheek way of saying that I have been around for fifty - seven years and have had a few experiences. There are several things that I know something about and more than a few that I do not. I’m a pretty good writer, though, and I hope you’ll stick with me as I write about life and work to publish my first book, a collection of short stories entitled The Streets of Greenfield.