Yesterday you missed another birthday. Your 76th.
Nineteen years flew by in a blur. Tate is nineteen now. So much has happened in nineteen years—some incredible, some impossible to imagine.
Farming has changed. You won’t believe this but we now have………..round cotton bales! Craziness.
And other farming news, something I never dreamed would happen, the Wilson family sold Lee Wilson & Company. Sold out to a huge landowner from Missouri. The beginning of a new era for Mississippi County.
And speaking of home, Osceola has a gigantic, new Wal-Mart sitting in a field near the interstate. Yes, this means another tired empty building in town. I haven’t been inside the new store yet, but according to my Facebook friends, no one can find anything.
Yes, you missed out on the phenomenon that is Facebook. I’m not going to explain it, you wouldn’t like it anyway.
You were spared the tragedy of September 11. We were attacked by terrorists on our own soil, bringing the country together just for a moment before returning to bickering among ourselves.
And, by the way, our country and entire planet is suffering from global warming.
Oh, with respect to the planets, Pluto is no longer one.
There are nineteen years’ worth of regular, everyday, amazing things I could broadcast about your four grandchildren, too many for this letter. Just know you live on in them.
Many of your friends are gone now too—Clide, Bert, Charles Crigger…Maybe you celebrated your birthday with them? Maybe that’s why we’ve had this recent crazy weather?
Grace Grits and Gardening
Musical Pairing:
Conway Twitty, That’s My Job
It is hard to type through the blur of tears! He may not have liked facebook but facebook knows a lot about him. 🙁
Yeah he probably wouldn’t like that either – LOL.
All of us who have lost our parents very much understand and appreciate the sentiment expressed in your wonderful writings! Your Dad, I’m sure would be very proud of you and your great family!
Thank you:))
I only remember meeting your dad once, but I am so sure that he would be very proud of what you’ve done with your life. I love this piece. It’s a great update for him. I’m sure he enjoyed it!
Thanks Robin!
Tayla, What a nice tribute to a man you knew as dad! In a few but prolific words you did a great and heartfelt tribute to him. I felt that you also remind us,your readers, that how we have changed because of the circumstance of what has happened. In one word humankind. Or humanhorror. (911 & Global Warming) With regards to your tribute I for one feel that it speaks volumes about you as a person remembering your dad on his birthday. Our family lost my dad thirteen years ago and we still decorate his grave and celebrate as though he is still here. So for me this invoke a readers feelings of celebrating an authors respect for her dad,along with our respect for my dad. Thank you It was heart touchig.
Thank you!
Ohhh…I should have taken your moms lead and NOT read this one today! So very touching! I miss our dads and other loved ones, our family get-togethers, THE LAKE, the innocence of our childhood when we didn’t even know what that meant, yet there seems to be very little of today. So loved all our times together – we need to establish it again on a more regular basis. I have to go blow my nose and go to a meeting – now that I’ve bawled all my makeup off. Love you and yours, Staci’s and hers, and your sweet mum, of course! And ALL the pets too! XOXO
Your biggest fan and biggest cousin….there, now I smiled, knocking a tear to the ground. XOXO again… Cindy Lu
Sorry Cindy Lu, should have warned you:)) Happy early birthday xoxo. T.
Beautiful.
gracias.
Simply Stunning!
I just saw this now and cried my make-up off before going out. Hard to believe it’s been so long. I do miss him and that he’s missed so much….
oops sorry!
Good post/memory/letter/talent, etc. etc. Mind if I do a spin-off with my dad? His birthday will be March 25. Maybe I will do that at H-P. loveP
No of course not! Thanks!
touching
Thanks Frank.
Extremely nice!
I loved your tribute to, and I often think about much he would have enjoyed seeing his great grandchildren, but I am glad he didn’t have to see some of the things you mentioned. And, yes, I bet yours was celebrating on his birthday. We will see them again!
Some of my comment didn’t make onto the blog! I loved your tribute to your father. I miss my dad, too. he has been gone 18 years.
How did I miss this one? Beautiful. (Bob)
This post makes my heart cry so deeply. My daddy died 9 December 2012 and I still can’t fathom that I will never be able to see him again, this side of Heaven. How can home ever be home without Daddy?
I am so sorry for your loss. 19 years or 19 days…it’s still a hurting that keeps on hurting. {{{hugs}}}
So sorry for your loss Suzanne. I hope you find some relief in knowing you will see him again some day…
Oh Talya, I missed this one somehow, this is a great post! It’s sweet, sad and informing. I loved your Dad but nothing compared to how much my Dad loves him still…..
Thank you Renee:)) It’s an oldie.