MEMORIES OF DAD
In my youth I remember mostly that Dad looked big. Some of those memories were in the years we had the Fairview farm. Most of the memories were when Dad "wasn't there" and I had to dodge big brothers. When Dad was there, we all had to behave ourselves.
I remember how smooth things went for Mother when Dad was around. She got any help she needed without a whimper. That of course, was because we knew Dad wanted us to be obedient and do our chores, etc.
I remember how he respected his farm animals and how he expected everyone else to do the same. Dad would be harsh at times, but I never knew a time I got a "licking" from him that I didn't deserve it.
One hot day while herding the cattle in the northwest fields, I got into an irrigation ditch - (it was cool in there) - and I fell asleep. The next thing I heard was Dad on "Duke" loping out to get the cows out of the grain. I thought that "this is the end of life for me", but he reached down and pulled me up on the horse behind him and said never a word to me about it. So I learned that he was also understanding.
I remember once when he and Grandpa Clement were working on some "doubletrees". He hit his finger with the hammer. I heard "Damn it" and so I repeated it good and loud. He threw the hammer at me and said, "Don't you ever say that again." I think I was about 5 years old. I found out later, Mother really got after him for that.
I think most of all, I remember that he wanted us to learn by doing. He taught us "how" and then trusted us to do it, whether milking, shoeing horses, driving his teams, shooting the guns, haying, threshing, using dynamite and caps at the coal mine (and other places), hoeing weeds, swimming in the ponds, rodeo-ing on the farm.
But most of all he expected us to show love and respect to mother. He would not tolerate contention in the home.
After Mother was burned, I don't remember doing much with Dad, until we moved to Richland. Then we seldom did things outside of church activities together. But we had the opportunity provided by Dad, to do many things on our own. But we never forgot the love he had for mom and how hard he must have worked to support us, feed and clothe us. He did teach us to work, along with the value of it. Mother taught us that play was also necessary and so we got a pretty good balance.
I remember when he taught me how to drive the car, and then when old enough to get my license, he let me take it on special dates, etc.
The Gospel was first in his life. I learned that later on. He loved the Savior.
He taught me to "Remember who you are" when I left home for the Navy. That stayed with me then and still does. He said, "People will think you are different, because you are different. You are not like them." I came to know what that meant and I never did let down my guard to smoke, drink even coffee, or be immoral, and so as he said, I was different.
He taught me to respect women. He would not even let us get even with our sisters. He said, "You keep your hands off those girls." We knew, by the way he treated mother, what he meant and we knew that he meant it.
I was gone in the service and college and lived in North Carolina for a year after that, so for about 10 years I did not see him, except when we married. Outside of a few letters, I never heard or saw him. When I did see him, it was at his funeral.
I have always loved and respected Dad. He set a pattern of life for all of his kids to live. I hope I never let him down.
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