These are my parents Don & Lucy- both of them are now in heaven. My dad passed away in May - 1976, my mom passed away September - 1999.
When my dad passed away, he was only 49 - today I look back and say wow that is way too young. Funny, I try to remember a lot about him so that I can tell you what kind of person he was, but its hard to describe my dad. Growing up with 2 brothers he was equally fair to all of us. He was strict and played no favorites. LOL, I had to spend my time standing in a corner just as my brothers did. He taught us values, honesty, and owning up to our responsibilities. Oh, I know that I probably broke all his rules at one time or another. Believe me, I learned the hard way with my dad, but he wasn't physically cruel just very strict!! Most of my senior year was spent on restriction for various reasons. My dad taught me a lot about different things. He loved to work on cars and if your car broke, you had to be there right along side of him fixing it. He taught me how to drive a stick shift car, change a flat, change my oil, and to be very independent. My dad loved working with children, he spent most of his life active in the Boy Scouts and even took me camping during the wintertime when I was only 4 years old. That was a great memory. He taught me something very special, which I will never forget: a promise is sacred - never make one if you can't keep it. I try to live by that. I will always love him for being my "Dad".
My Mom was the complete opposite of my Dad. Very easy going, an earth mother of sorts. My mom was from the "south" so her cooking reflected it. She could make the best fried chicken that you ever wanted to taste. Biscuits and gravy for Sunday morning breakfast were out of this world. During the summer, we would be at the beach with friends and family and my mom would cook up one enormous breakfast. No one could sleep on the mornings she did that, because she made it known Loud & Clear that you better get up and eat. Oh, the stories she could tell; when I was young I was fascinated by all her stories about herself & her family living in North Carolina. Guess my mom was a little devil growing up, smoking cornstalks, trying moonshine. Woohoo, just couldn't believe my mom an the tales she told of her adventures. She was from a very large southern family, and it was a real treat when we would go and visit all my aunts and uncles. I loved to sit and watch my mom tease her sisters about the stuff they used to do when they were my age. Mom was a very strong person, when my Dad died she never shed tears in front of us. But, she could watch a movie on television and would cry saying only the good ones could do that to her. Don't ever though get my mom upset cause her temper would show. She didn't speak to a neighbor once for over 2 years because of a falling out. My mom didn't have a lot of hobbies, but loved taking care of her grandchildren. Oh how she loved each and everyone of them. When my Mom passed away, I took it very hard. I wasn't there at the time to say my goodbyes an to tell her how much I loved her, but I know that in my heart she knew.
So Mom and Dad this page is for you, I hope that where ever you know that I always love you, and my thoughts of you are with me every day.
Love you both!! |
