Remembering Dad on Father's Day

One of my fondest memories of Dad is how we all got together in the summer to make homemade ice cream. He would always watch and make sure we had plenty of ice and salt.

 

One of my earliest memories of Dad was when I won Yogi Bear and a pail full of candy. Every summer the whole family would go to Euclid Beach for a work sponsored picnic. The company would have contests and drawings for the children. This summer I was able to participate. I could either do it myself or have my daddy help me. I still remember him telling me he would help me if I agreed to share the candy with my  three sisters. I agreed and he did help and we WON! Later in life, I wanted to go to college. We made too much money to get any grants, but dad said not to worry. Well I got married instead. Later I did go to college and Dad did help me with my books. He always wanted us to follow our dreams.

Here is a picture of my dad and his parents and his younger brother Louis. I remember dad telling me how his dad had built the wrap around porch. This house was somewhere in Mooresville, Ms.
When dad got sick and mom had her stroke, Ken (my husband) would fix food for me to take to them. He loved salmon patties. ( I hated them-still do I don't care if they are good for you.)
We would sit at the table and talk. We would go through old family pictures. I didn't know my Grandpa Sid because he died before I was born. I loved getting to hear about him.

I loved asking my mom and dad about how they met. My mom's folks would move around a lot. Grandpa Odus would work on farms. One year they happened to be across the street where my Dad's grandpa lived.
My mother's eldest brother, Ellis, and dad became good friends. When dad would go into town, he would take all the young people with him.

Dad always got along with everybody. I never met anyone who knew him to have a bad word to say about him.

I have truly been blessed to have such a father. I thank God everyday for blessing me with the family I grew up with.
Love you sisters and brother!

If you have a father still alive today, tell him thank you for being there. If your parents were one of the few to stay together, ask them how they did it. I guarantee it wasn't always easy.

Happy Father's Day to all you father's out there!