I can remember, as far back as my memories can go, my father whispering in my ear 'If you want to catch a bird, you have to sprinkle a little salt on his tail..then you can just walk right up to it and grab it'. I was amazed that a simple thing such as salt could be used to catch a bird. My father had all sorts of stories to tell us as children, such as how to catch birds and rabbits, and about life on the Tennessee farm he was raised on. He was born at home in Bumpus Mills, a little farming town in Stewart County. He went to school in a one room school house, finishing eighth grade, thats as high as the grades went. He helped work the family farm. He was the baby of the family, the 13th child. He was mainly surrounded by his sisters, as his older brothers were already grown with families of their own. I believe life was hard work for all of them. Hearing my father talk about those years, you knew he found joy in his life being a farm boy, and he was full of stories about life on the farm. He helped the sisters with many chores, such as laying out fruit on the tin roof to dry, burying cabbage in mounds of soil and straw to keep over the winter. He told of sneaking sweet potatos out of the warming oven,being scolded by his mother. He remembered coming home from school one day to a lunch of fried chicken, and being told it was a pet rooster of his. He said that was life on the farm, you had to do what you had to do to survive.
He left the farm at 16, moved to Ohio where he met and married my mother also 16. Together they had six children, I am number five of the brood. He owned and operated a Sinclair gas station. I used to love to go visit him there, all the pop and candy you could eat. One time he came home with a giant sized Dino the dinosaur in the back of his truck to be used for display at the station. All the neighboring children came over, I felt so proud of my father. Sadly my parents divorced when I was six years old. I still saw my father often. He would take us on picnics and fishing trips He taught me all the secrets of fishing, and how to shoot a gun at a friends farm. Dad said 'Baby its going to kick you, so watch out' I did not know what he meant, until it knocked me off my feet. He would take us on trips to Tennessee to see family there. I loved going and seeing all the places he used to go as a boy. I loved spending time with my aunts and cousins. I think he felt at peace the most when he was in Tennessee. Through the years my father had some hard times, had his demons to fight, and he did not always win. But through all the years, one constant thing never changed, his love for his children and family. He was a good natured, gentle man, who never met a stranger and had many friends. I remember him inviting passerbys to a cookout on our lawn. He loved to cook, and he loved to eat. Yes he loved to drink, and he loved Merle Haggard songs. He was a simple man, who enjoyed the simple things in life. A country boy at heart. You could take him out of Tennessee, but could never take Tennessee out of him.
He bravely fought his battle to live, and was brave enough at the end to give up his fight, and go peacefully to heaven. He talked with one of his sisters the night before he died." Honey, will you dig me a hole up there in Tennessee?' 'Yes 'she replied, they both were laughing. Humor was with him always, even in the end.
My father left a great legacy, not of monetary riches, but a treasure of memories ,stories, and love to be shared with his grandchildren and their children. Several months after he died, I was shopping for antique books. I came across 'Merrys Book Of Birds', an old book , circa 1860. In it I came across this saying..."I remember well, that once I thought I could catch any bird, if only I could sprinkle a little salt on his tail". I was comforted and realized just how far back my fathers stories went. This must have been a saying someone whispered into his ear as a child.
My father was a gentle,loving man.... The Man From Tennessee. |
