Celebration

Sammy, we celebrated your Papa's (my father's) 70th birthday, recently. Although, he says he is 30 since he started counting backwards after the age of 50. Nevertheless, we had dinner and reminisced about his life and our (your grandmother, mother and myself) lives with him. I have asked him to write down his experiences, but since he has yet to do so, I thought I would tell you a little bit about him.

Your Papa grew up in Ruleville, Mississippi the son of tenant farmer with 5 brothers and sisters, picking cotton, soybeans and corn by hand and later with the help of various farm implements. At a young age, he was severely stricken with scarlet fever and had to endure to death of his mother. He has told me many stories from his childhood, but two I recall most vividly are when he and his brother Gerald used to have corn cob fights and how the whole family (your great-grandfather Monroe, your great grandmother, your great uncle Gerald, Papa, great aunt Sue, great aunt Sandy, great uncle Morris and great uncle Keith) would gather for Sunday dinner (lunch) for fried chicken or roast. After playing football in high school, he was drafted into the US Navy and served for two years (something like 22 months at sea while on active duty) on the most highly decorated aircraft carrier from World War II, the USS Essex. Once discharged he went to school for a while and returned to help with the family farm due to an illness that your great grandfather had at the time. It was during this time that he met my mother (your grandmother) while she was attending Delta State, home of the Fighting Okra (I kid you not!). After being married for about a year, they moved to Jacksonville, FL so that mom could find work, while he went back to college. All told, he was in college for approximately 12 years (probably less given his time farming) and attended about 5 schools, but he never gave up. He ended up graduating with an accounting degree from Jacksonville University from which I would graduate some 25 years later. Your Papa mostly worked for the Department of Defense with the Army and Navy as an internal auditor and as a fraud, waste and abuse investigator, overseeing his unit for some time. He retired approximately 5 years ago and has since held the position of house husband as he calls it. Your Papa is also a man of strong faith and compassion, helping those in need by generously lending a hand or support.

I left out that your Papa and grandmother, had an only child, me, in 1974. The joke is that it took them nine years instead of nine months to have me since they were trying to save up enough money to help pay for my arrival and subsequent living expenses. Sammy, your Papa and I are a lot alike, and have had our ups and downs (mainly while I was in high school) because of this. We know what buttons to push to elicit a reaction out of one another since we are so much alike. On the flipside, because of this same attribute we also know how to make each other laugh and have a good time together. Some of my fondest memories are of when we used to go see Spring Training games together in South Florida when I was at JU on break. We would eat oysters and other seafood, relax and watch a few baseball games. On one trip Dad made it possible for me to meet my favorite baseball player, Will Clark. Funny thing, because your Papa liked him too because he went to Mississippi State. I miss those trips and I hope one day that the three of us will be able to go on another one.

It is ironic that he celebrates this birthday near the same time you celebrate your 1st. Perfect bookends to my 36 years. I couldn't imagine it any other way, it is quite symmetrical and as your mother knows I have to have things symmetrical when planning anything.

In the end, I want you to know that your Papa is a great man, loving husband and father, brother, friend, advisor and mentor. He says he made some mistakes raising me, but if I become anywhere near the man he is, I will feel like I have achieved a lot. It is my wish for you, that you take all of our good traits and learn from those that cause us to make mistakes, becoming the very best you can be.

Happy Birthday Dad/Papa and definitely many more!