I wrote this short essay about my dad and I thought it would be appropriate for Father’s Day; it goes like this: DADDY’S LEGACY I’ve already surpassed your age when you passed.

I still feel 30ish--certainly not in my 70s. You were so young to leave us, but cancer made you older than 57 in those pics.

I was only 30. Scarlette and Cassandra were 7 and 5 and Clay didn’t come until the next year. Oh, how I wished you could have lived to see them grow up and become blessings to me.

Yes, they have troubles, trials, and challenges, but triumph through with God’s guidance and miraculous ways.

As for me? I had your love and advice about so much, including public and work issues...and what-not.

I would have liked for you to see me graduate college. You are so much a part of me now as I repeat some of your wisdom and phrases.

And I think about your heartbeat for people in need and for animals.

You’ve left us with much and I thank you for that.

No matter your faults, you certainly had your strengths, and have left a legacy.

The essay above brings back so many memories of my dad. Memories like family vacations to Texas visiting relatives. Once we went to Mexico to shop for souvenirs. And then there were the Sunday drives with all 7 of us in the car that took us to lakes and parks for picnics.

When I was 9, my dad opened up our home for kids to come in the neighborhood for fun activities. One I especially remember was like what the Olympics have: a long pole held up on 2 sides for participants to run and jump over the pole. He had measurements marked on the 2 sides where the height of the pole could continue to be lifted as we jumped over it. He also bought bows and arrows for us to practice hitting target boards. My sister, Oneita, remembered another activity where we, with neighborhood kids, stood in a big circle and took turns sharing safety tips.

(That was a pretty wise thing to think of for young kids.) Oneita also remembered Daddy taking the time to teach the boys how to make fishing nets since we all liked to fish.

Another interest he helped us with was in coin collecting. Oneita remembers him bringing home bags of pennies from the bank. He had bought collector books to put pennies in, representing every year. To this day, I give coins a second look to see if they’re really old.

After we purchased the large acreage east of Seminole, our family finally owned a house and land. When Daddy retired, he began preparing one of the spring-fed lakes into a public recreational swimming lake with all the amenities playground area, bathrooms, bathhouse, and a concession stand. We enjoyed the results, allowing family fun for thousands of people. It was quite an undertaking.

We sold the lake when Daddy began having health issues, For a few years, though, he worked for the police department auxiliary as a fingerprint technician and private investigator. (Years ago he had taken courses in police science, earning his credentials to possibly work for the police department one day.) He proved to have many talents and interests that became a positive influence on us.

Because the 3 boys were in the military, Oneita was working in Oregon, and Mom never learned to drive, I took Daddy to OKC several times for chemo treatments. It was hard to see the drastic physical changes he experienced. After 5 years, in the early spring of 1975, he passed.

That’s been 50 years ago, but the memories remain. Our family didn’t always have much, but what we had was most important: parents who loved us, disciplined us, taught us many skills, and a strong work ethic. Mom read the Bible to us, which set a foundation for us to seek God for guidance in our daily lives. Mom will be 98 next week, and proudly has a picture of her and Daddy hanging by her bed. Once in a while she’ll share some of those memories that we enjoy re-living with her. Remember your parents. Call or visit them if they’re still living. Every day should be Mother’s and Father’s Day!

Have a blessed week.

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