Rex, welcome, you have found THE place to spend the best time, to learn, to ask questions, to tell us of your experiences (we are a nosey crew, and especially me). You will find that soon a spell will be cast, that be the spell of the honeybee, you will also become addicted to honeybees, yeah!!! Watch them, work with them, they will bring you joy, and keep you entertained as well.
You have the memory of a smoker and gloves in your Grandfather's garage. He would most certainly have kept bees, perhaps you were too young to be involved, but you probably saw him in his bee garb. That is why you have had that interest since early childhood, as you spoke about. The memories of days gone by and events are always in our minds, even those recollection cannot always bring them to the forefront. I think that is wonderful about the gloves and smoker of your Grandfather.
Tell us your stories as you go along with your bees, we are an interested bunch of people, you will see that. Have that most beautiful and wonderful day, love our life we live. Cindi