Daddy

Daddy taught me to shoot a shot gun, a rifle, and a 22 pistol. He took me hunting for quail and taught me how to look out for snakes and bulls in a pasture. We once went to a turkey shoot in Lake Wales around Thanksgiving. We shot at targets. I won a turkey shooting a rifle. Daddy didn't win anything. I was about 13. Daddy taught us how to launch a boat, and run it safely. Every Sunday, before Daddy started going to church, he and I would go fishing (casting) in Long Lake. I would drive the small boat and he would cast for bass. I always asked him why Mother went to church and we didn't. Finally, we started going to church. Funny thing, mother stopped going for awhile when Daddy started going. Maybe she didn't like his singing. I never figured that one out. Finally, she started coming to church again and we were there as a family.

Daddy liked to scare our dates by showing up with his shot gun across his arms, if we were late or sitting in the drive too long, or just for fun so they would know who was boss. One time, Eddie and I were late coming home, and Daddy came out with his gun. Scared Eddie half to death. He backed his cool car out onto Daddy's yard running over one of Daddy's favorite plants and then gunned the engine, leaving ruts all the way up through the grass until he hit the dirt road. Eddie only stopped for a moment to look at me, and then tore out up the dirt road like the devil himself was after him. I cried, Daddy laughed and Eddie left. Daddy called Eddie the next day and told him it was okay and he could come back to see me. Eddie must have really loved me at that point, because he did come back. One time, Eddie was kissing me good night at the door and he didn't know he was leaning against the doorbell. So he rang the doorbell several times and mother came to the door and said, "If you are going to have a long kiss, at least get off the doorbell. Come to bed, Eddie go home."

When I was sent off to college at FSU, I really wasn't prepared for college. Mother mostly sent me there to get a break from Eddie and to meet other boys. I was so miserable. I didn't do very well and it got worse everyday. I cried a lot and finally, near the end of the first semester, I called home and talked to Daddy. I was so unhappy and couldn't take it anymore. Daddy came and got me the next day. He just said, you have to work or go to college somewhere else. You can't just sit home. He saved me again. He would always listen to your side of the story and always showed how much he cared. One time after Eddie and I were married living in New Mexico, I had to call Daddy because we couldn't make our car payment. Eddie's only thought was he would have to send me home for awhile until he could make ends meet again. Daddy, said "Oh no, don't send her home, I will send you the money each month. She is just fine where she is." I don't think he wanted to deal with me and mother together again under the same roof. She and I made life very interesting for Daddy. So, right now, I am going to get ready to go to work for awhile. I have a Sunday School Class later.