One Hundred Years!

My dear father, Reuben, was born this day, August 4th, 1914, in a small town in extreme southern Tennessee, Cerro Gordo, which was wiped out by a tornado in years past.  Now my father is deceased (2003) and the only reminder of the place he lived is a small school in the country.  This piece today will not be an obituary, a recount of his many accomplishments, of which the entire family is extremely proud, I just want to offer Dad's friendliness as an example to which we all can aspire.

School at Cerro Gordo, March 2014.  The only other buildings in the area are several rural homes.

In my memory, Dad never met a living person who was not instantly a friend, a person who felt they had known each other their whole lives. This was in direct contrast to my mother, Adeline, who was shy, very shy.  Yet they were happily married for over 60 years.  Over the years, my Dad encouraged Mother, who became more outgoing in her later years.

Whenever we were at a restaurant, party, or any kind of gathering, Dad would strike up a conversation with the people near him.  I feel that everyone appreciated this.  Dad would 'draw them out,' get them talking about themselves.

Dad always stood tall and straight.  He was not noticeably handsome but he attracted women, I know for sure.  On the occasion of Mom and Dad's Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary, my three brothers and I planned a dinner-cruise on the Chesapeake Bay, on the Virginia coast.  Dad and Mom danced and danced.  Then mom got tired and they sat down at our table.  Shortly thereafter, another woman, a young woman, asked Dad to dance.  Soon, other women asked Dad to dance.  He was a fairly good dancer, you can imagine! Dad didn't have time to sit down with us.

It turned out, then, that the same woman asked Dad to dance over and over.  Mom was not happy.  Keep in mind: Mom was shy, strictly straight-laced, never cursed, was always mellow.  Mom leaned over and whispered in my ear, "If they got any closer, they'd be having sex!"  I don't think Mom had to worry.  (I didn't think they were too close).

In my lifetime, I've known two other men that were almost as friendly as Dad.   I hope to meet more!  I miss my Dad, and also my Mom.  But I know how much they loved me and my brothers, and that always warms my heart!  Happy, happy birthday in heaven, Reuben!

Dear Lord, now You have Dad and Mom with You.  Save a place for Me!