I have no memories of my dad, because he passed away when I was four years old. But, oh my grand dad, whom I affectionately called Daddy. He was an awesome guy and the joy of my life! I think he felt the same way about me, as well as all of his grandchildren.
He was the quiet, serious type, because he was a thinker. He was a businessman who was constantly looking for creative ways to move his family forward. Daddy dreamed “big” and worked hard to excel in whatever challenge he sought. “He did Big Business as a Small Business Owner.”
I have so many fond memories of my granddad. I vividly recall many special times that I spent with him. I just loved to sit on his lap, put my arm on his shoulder, and give him my “Daddy I-gotta-have-this list”. He would glance down at my long list and do his best to fulfill my wishes.
Dad passed away about three weeks before my high school graduation. What a sad time that was for me ! Unable to express my feelings, I struggled with my loss all through my college years. As a result, I developed an ulcer my first year in the workplace. As time went on, the sadness started to fade. I was then able to reflect on the pleasant memories we shared as a family. He left a legacy that I am very proud of, and I am doing my best to pass on those beliefs, customs and traditions to my family.
I am going to share with you some of the priceless lessons I learned from my dad. They continue to hold a very special place in my heart today.
Lesson # 1 Dad taught by example: He believed in exposing the family to new things, ideas and concepts. He introduced us to many innovative ideas that were different and new to our area, and way of life. He took great pleasure in explaining the details and the benefits to the family, and the role each one would play in manifesting the dream. We were always successful in our new endeavors, and we learned a lot from each experience.
He had a unique way of getting a job done. I’m still trying to figure it out. The way he presented our new responsibilities to us were exciting, and thus became a challenge. We were so happy to be around him that we were elated to do whatever he asked us to do. It was a pleasure to be in his presence. Now as I look back , some of the task we performed were very hard work, but it was fun.
Lesson #2 He had strong work ethics. He worked hard and believed that their children and the grandchildren should too, when we weren’t in school. There were many age-appropriate jobs that could be done by the younger kids like washing dishes, cleaning our rooms, and some outside chores. I loathed washing the dishes. I could often charm him, but there wasn’t much I could do to avoid “bursting those suds”.
Lesson #3 Education was a top priority. Everyone had to go to school and get good grades. He did not believe in missing school unless you were sick. You either went to the doctor, or was stuffed with so many home remedies that you pretended to be better just to get back to school and avoid those “meds”.
He believed in getting a good education so strongly, that he created a bus route to alleviate the pain of students having to walk long distances to school in inclement weather. He started a bus route driving his pickup truck. He later purchased a large yellow school bus and maintained his route for years. He transported students and teachers within a fifty mile radius to three different schools. I was so proud of my dad, and eager to ride on his bus!
Lesson #4 Take care of the family. The family ranked number one on dad’s to-do-list. This was his mission in life. He showed us the importance of family, and how to maintain close relationships. At an early age ,”Do not fight your cousins” was embedded in our brains in a loving and serious way! What I liked most about dad was that he showed us what to do, by example, rather than a bunch of rhetoric.
“He was a man of a few words and a big heart”. Even though we were surrounded by a large extended family, there was always more than enough to share with neighbors and friends. He simply enjoyed sharing his blessings with others. Whatever the need, family or not, people could always depend on my dad to step up to the plate without being asked. He seemed to enjoy solving problems. I guess I inherited that trait from him.
Lesson #5 Daddy believed in a Higher Being. He believed in working hard all week, celebrating the results of your efforts on Saturday, and going to church to give thanks on Sunday. Not only did we attend church, all of us were active participants, and enjoyed every minute of it.
The highlight of our Sunday’s event was the big feast afterwards. We would come together, eat a scrumptious meal, and play with our cousins the rest of the day, unless there was a church service that evening.
Have you ever watched the television series Soul Food ? In case you haven’t, this show depicts an extended families coming together to prepare an amazing meal, and everyone dine together every Sunday. This was us, but we lived the story line, long before the television series. Wow, we lived for the weekends, and the good times we were going to have with our cousins!
Thank you Daddy for your wisdom, the fun times, and the fond memories. Happy Fathers Day, Daddy!
Loving Memories,
Ruby
Please feel free to share some of your special thoughts about your dad in the comment section below.
Go to https://www.helpingkidslearn.org to read related content. Email me at Ruby@rubyfreeman2.com
Wishing you much success,
Ruby Freeman, Academic Coach / Founder of HelpingKidsLearn.org / Ruby@HelpingKidsLearn.org
Hello.This post was really remarkable, especially since I was investigating for thoughts on this topic last Tuesday.
My grandad was a terrific guy, with tons of innovative ideas!