Today is a date I never forget, April 7th, the day my father died. I feel so very blessed to have had 51 years with my Dad.
Whenever my three brothers and I get together, we like to talk about growing up. Especially the spankings we endured.. If Mom is around she hates it and tells us she doesn't want to hear about those days. We laugh and keep on reminising. It was a fun time. we didn't have much, middle class family, dad was a teacher and Mom stayed home to raise the four of us. But to us ,we had everything a child could ever have or want.
I always remember that I wore a lot of hand me downs and I always got one pair of new shoes, a skirt and a blouse when school started. Course I get new undies too. But to me it was enough. I learned to sew at 10 years old a made many of my clothes especially in high school.
My dad grew up in Olive Hill Ky, got a full basketball scholarship to Auburn University where for many years his record was not broken. I was born there.. He served in the Airforce and moved to Florida to teach and he became a very respected history teacher and coach in Hialeah Florida where I grew up. He made young men into basket ball players. He worked them hard and he was strict. Sometimes even when they won the game they still had to run around the gym until he thought it was enough He had high standards. Most went on to having great lives and many came to his funeral from far away when he died.
He carried his strictness home. We were brought up to respect others, to have integrity and never never steal or lie...(as a kid it was tough sometimes)
Today I can smile and remember what a great childhood I had. I miss him but know I am who I am today because he never gave up on me. He was my coach too.
Anyone else have a loved one that will always be remebered for the difference they made in your life?
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