Daddy’s love

Daddy’s birthday is May 19. As it falls on a Friday this year, Skip suggested I dedicate this column to my father. Since I am always looking for suggestions for my column, I agreed and it make this week’s column easy to put together. It’s only been about a year and a half since Dad passed and we all still miss him.

Dad was fairly well known in town. He took over his father’s plumbing business, Rawlings Plumbing. He was a city councilman in the 80’s. He worked for the City of Okmulgee at the Water Treatment Plant. He was Rainman to a wonderful band of brothers he loved and who loved him in return. He wore so many different hats to those around town.

But to me, he was Daddy or Pops, depending on my mood. He was a man who would yell at us if we got hurt because he hated to see us in pain while also giving hugs to make us feel better. He was an impatient teacher. Impatient because he wanted to get it done and it took time to show someone else how to do it, but he wanted us to know how so he took the time to answer questions when we asked. Dad was a man who would bring a new animal home, much to Mom’s dismay, without having somewhere to put it. He would figure it out and he always did. He could drive a T post and sling paint and shoot snakes, but only the bad ones. But he taught us to fish and swim and ride a bike. We butchered our own chickens and raised turkeys and then ostriches, all because he wanted us to learn to do things on our own. But then he also had an iguana that would climb on the snake charmer and shoot it off or climb on my waterbed because it was heated and one time he brought an alligator home and kept it in the kitchen. He would sing to us and dance with us on the coffee table in the living room every Sunday listening to his vinyl records. Daddy was tough as nails but wrapped around his girls’ fingers. He would have done anything for us. We all miss him dearly.

This week, as I honor my father’s birthday, take the time to give of yourself to your own family. I promise for the most part, your family just wants to spend time with you more than anything. Go for a visit and spend what time you can. Bring dinner or help them cook it and make a new memory for you all. This week, I am sharing some of Dad’s favorites and Mom and I thought of him as we shared dinner this week. Make your grocery list and hit the grocery store. Then, meet me in the kitchen for something my dad enjoyed that just may become something you like as well.