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Dear Dad,
Just dropping you a line to
remind you of how very much I love you! You have been the
world to me throughout my childhood as well as the rest of
my life. I know that you are who you became from hard work
and determination. I realize that you had to be firm with my
siblings and I as we were growing up during the depression
years. You provided well for us with the help of our dear
Mom who worked side by side with you.
Flash backs in my memory take
me to the day when as a child I jumped out of a warm bed to
hit the cold floor to join you, daddy, as you re-built the
fire in the wood stoves. Naturally, you chased me back to
bed but oh how I loved to be with you no matter what you
were doing.
I recall falling on the hard
ground and your gentle touch as you cradled me in your
loving arms; consoling me as I wept.
Bringing laughter to you was so
very special like the time that I asked you what your name
was before you were married; children have so much to learn!
No one but no one likes
Limburger cheese, do they? Of course they do!! My daddy
liked it so I did, too! He loved to eat raw turnips fresh
from the garden so this little miss had to have a slice,
too! Remember? ha!
As I grew older, I loved to go
to the neighborhood movies. I was still too young to earn my
own money so if you gave me permission to go, you would hand
me the money and I always promised to bring you the change.
I can still see the twinkling light in your eyes. I knew you
were loving these words as I said them to you! The twinkle
always told me that you were almost ready to laugh.
Daddy, do you remember when I
found the Lord Jesus as my Savior? You were so happy for me.
This was in April 1949. I was scheduled to be baptized on
Easter Sunday. Mother had your special new suit pressed,
your dress shirt ironed, your shoes polished and on top of
that, she had ordered a boutonniere for your lapel.
At this time, I had been
working part time and going to business college. I had taken
some of my money and put a spring coat in lay by. This day
that I speak of is Good Friday. Mother and i had gone
shopping and she decided to pay the rest on my coat so I
would have it for Easter Sunday. This was not to happen!
Mother had a sister who lived
very close to the downtown area. She knew Mother and I were
shopping so she sent her granddaughter to find us. When the
granddaughter found us, she said that my Aunt Grace wanted
us to come to her house. Mother refused but after much
pleading, Mother gave into Vicki's insistence. Enroute to
Aunt Grace's home, my brother, Paul, saw us, stopped his car
to invite us for the ride. This is when my world collapsed.
Love, Norma
Norma Liles
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May your day be blessed
Bob Johnston |
