My Dad was my Hero
Jun 18, 2020 18:44:40 #
I suspect most children don't realize just how much their parents sacrifice for their children, and if they do it is often too late to express their gatitude.
My father was about 7 or 8 when his mother died suddenly. He was as much as orphaned because his father remarried soon after. And too soon in the opinion of my father's older brothers and sisters. There was so much rancor that they filed a suit to particion the farm property for the minor children, fearing the new wife would take control of all.
My dad went to live with his older siblings, and they did not make him go to school beyond the 3 or 4th grade and even then I suspect his education was spotty. He grew up bright, but totally uneducated and workd on the farm until oil began to be discovered and then as a roughneck on drilling rigs all over the state.
He met my mother while drilling a well on her father's farm. They were forbiddent to date, but my mother's older brothers helped them meet at parties and such. They missed their connection for her ride back home on Christmas Eve and eloped. They were married in Marietta Oklahoma . The first child, a girl, died in infancy and I was born about 2 years later.
I was loved, prized, and treated like royalty all my life by my parents. Due to Dad's lack of education, he was determined I should go to college. He kept saying he wanted me to be able to "Meet the public" while he never explained what it meant, I think i understood.
When we went to enroll me at Texas A. & M. the entire family went along. When I had been issued my uniforms and a room, and Dad was ready to leave, he handed me his checkbook and said, Be as careful as you can!" He had already made arrangements at the local bank to finance whatever it took to see me through college. Just Sayin...RJS
My father was about 7 or 8 when his mother died suddenly. He was as much as orphaned because his father remarried soon after. And too soon in the opinion of my father's older brothers and sisters. There was so much rancor that they filed a suit to particion the farm property for the minor children, fearing the new wife would take control of all.
My dad went to live with his older siblings, and they did not make him go to school beyond the 3 or 4th grade and even then I suspect his education was spotty. He grew up bright, but totally uneducated and workd on the farm until oil began to be discovered and then as a roughneck on drilling rigs all over the state.
He met my mother while drilling a well on her father's farm. They were forbiddent to date, but my mother's older brothers helped them meet at parties and such. They missed their connection for her ride back home on Christmas Eve and eloped. They were married in Marietta Oklahoma . The first child, a girl, died in infancy and I was born about 2 years later.
I was loved, prized, and treated like royalty all my life by my parents. Due to Dad's lack of education, he was determined I should go to college. He kept saying he wanted me to be able to "Meet the public" while he never explained what it meant, I think i understood.
When we went to enroll me at Texas A. & M. the entire family went along. When I had been issued my uniforms and a room, and Dad was ready to leave, he handed me his checkbook and said, Be as careful as you can!" He had already made arrangements at the local bank to finance whatever it took to see me through college. Just Sayin...RJS
Jun 18, 2020 19:00:15 #
So very true.
Father's Day is not as respected and popularly observed as Mother's Day. There is a simple reason for this. Although almost everyone has difficult issues with their mothers, there is no doubt as to their mother's love. The same is not true for fathers. Because men have a more difficult time expressing their feelings to their children, many children go through life with the mistaken notion that their fathers don't love them. This is a tragedy because fathers generally love their children dearly and often work long hours so that they can raise their children in comfort.
Father's Day is not as respected and popularly observed as Mother's Day. There is a simple reason for this. Although almost everyone has difficult issues with their mothers, there is no doubt as to their mother's love. The same is not true for fathers. Because men have a more difficult time expressing their feelings to their children, many children go through life with the mistaken notion that their fathers don't love them. This is a tragedy because fathers generally love their children dearly and often work long hours so that they can raise their children in comfort.
Jun 18, 2020 20:04:21 #
Jun 18, 2020 20:26:18 #
Sure do miss Every moment with my dad. Hunting, fishing, camping, working, and all the family activities. Just flat out miss him!
Jun 19, 2020 10:24:30 #
Unfortunatly my father died when I was nine. A few years later mom re-married. My stepdad was a hard worker, but never conveyed his feelings toward his children.Took good care of us though. After he passed away my mom was alone for a few years, then remarried once again. 3rd dad was great with all of us kids. Fishing was his passion and went with him often. Unfortunately after mom passed away, he showed his true colors, Tearing up moms will and leaving everything to his real daughter.
Jun 19, 2020 11:48:47 #
ghaynes1
Loc: Strawberry Plains, TN
Robert J Samples wrote:
I suspect most children don't realize just how muc... (show quote)
Your father was wise beyond his years RJS. Lucky for you he knew what to do.
Jun 19, 2020 13:05:33 #
Ghaynes1: Yes, my father was a smart man. He grew up in the horse as transporation days. He could and did shoe horses both ours and neighbors, he was a master at leather working, and during WW II, he would resole our shoes. He just had no education and later in life learned that was a real handicap.
When I was in about the 5th or 6th grade, one evening at dinner, both my mother and I noticed that he was acting strange. Finally we asked what was the matter? He finally told us he had been offered a pumpers job and had decided to turn it down! We both knew that was a real nice promotion, so why was he going to turn the offer down?
He said that in order to do the job, he would have to know how to do fractions in gauge the oil in tank batteries and he didn't know how. I said, I know how to do fractions, I will teach you! We sat at the kitchen table and I taught my father fractions. He caught on quickly and as far as I know never made a mistake. And oil batteries were all in 25th, 50th, and such, which were much easier than lumber fractions anyway. He took the job, which had better pay, a house to live in, and even better hours. It was a great move for the entire family.
Also, by the time I got in high school, any major decision the family made, I was included in...Just Sayin...RJS
When I was in about the 5th or 6th grade, one evening at dinner, both my mother and I noticed that he was acting strange. Finally we asked what was the matter? He finally told us he had been offered a pumpers job and had decided to turn it down! We both knew that was a real nice promotion, so why was he going to turn the offer down?
He said that in order to do the job, he would have to know how to do fractions in gauge the oil in tank batteries and he didn't know how. I said, I know how to do fractions, I will teach you! We sat at the kitchen table and I taught my father fractions. He caught on quickly and as far as I know never made a mistake. And oil batteries were all in 25th, 50th, and such, which were much easier than lumber fractions anyway. He took the job, which had better pay, a house to live in, and even better hours. It was a great move for the entire family.
Also, by the time I got in high school, any major decision the family made, I was included in...Just Sayin...RJS
Jun 19, 2020 14:29:35 #
ghaynes1
Loc: Strawberry Plains, TN
Robert J Samples wrote:
Ghaynes1: Yes, my father was a smart man. He gre... (show quote)
Just backs up my original comment. A very smart man. I had a grandfather like that. Sixth grade education. Dropped out during The Depression to help the family. Owned 3 homes at once. New cadillacs every 2 years. Invested in Coke, Sears, etc when they were starting out. Got big dividend checks. Owned his own business. Fought in both world wars. Could have played pro baseball. First war got in the way.
I'm guessing RJS is pretty sharp too.
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