An Honorable Man

One of my earliest memories of my father is seeing him at a painting easel. My father was an extremely hard-working and talented man and I have many memories of him doing one project or another but only one that I remember where he had an artist’s brush in his hand. He was working on one of the “Seasons” that hangs to this day over my mother’s couch and was touching up a small deer that was to be part of the scene he was creating. My young self was so amazed that my dad was an artist!

Painting was a talent that my father did not pursue for very long. I only know of six paintings: the four seasons and two he did of the farm where he grew up. I liked looking at the picture of the farm and trying to imagine what it would have been like to live there. Daddy was a quiet man and did not often speak of his childhood but every once in awhile our family would travel down to Fairview where he grew up and while Daddy took care of a few things, we kids would play by the tall cottonwoods behind what was left of the old farmhouse.

In later years, Daddy would write his life story. He wrote about his childhood, farm life and growing up in a big family with loving parents who taught their children how to work but also how to love and support each other. (My dad is the cute little blond at the end of the line!) I love to get out his history and read the stories over and over. I feel him close by when I do.

I feel blessed to have one of the paintings done by my father. I recently had it re-framed and find myself sitting in front of it and thinking about those long ago days watching my father at his many projects. You see, I too was raised in a big family with loving parents who also taught us how to work and to love and support each other. Quite a legacy – one I hope I’ve passed on to my children.

But for now, I'm hoping he knows how grateful I am that he was my father! I miss you Daddy!