Monday, June 21, 2010

Father's Day


Since yesterday was Father's Day, I thought I'd share some photos from our visit with my husband's 92 year old father at his home in Denton, Texas. He's one of the people responsible for me writing about small towns and the people who live there. He and my late mother-in-law told wonderful stories of growing up in Texas, southwest of Fort Worth. He lived in an area near Dennis, TX, on the Brazos River. He called it the "Big Valley," which is the equivalent of bottom land for those of us more familiar with large rivers. The house he grew up in is still there, in the photo on the left.


My mother-in-law spent the first 17 years of her life in Lingleville, TX, which is near Stephenville. She grew up on a smaller farm with much poorer soil, less water and more rocks. It was a tough life which she escaped though education, attending college where she met my father-in-law. Many of the stories he's told us through the years centered around people they stayed with and knew, distant relatives and friends of friends who helped out.




Yesterday we had a great visit, heard a few more stories (and some of them the second or third or tenth time,) and watched our grandchildren play in his spacious home. We treasure these visits and I always take lots of photos because I want the girls to remember their great-grandfather, whom they call "Dad." I doubt that they will remember the stories, but I have plans to record them on my Flip video and store them for the future. After all, Dad probably only has 10 or 20 good years left! Happy belated Father's Day to all the dads and to everyone who no longer has their dad to visit and listen to and get advice from, I hope you hold on to the all the good memories forever. Perhaps when the girls are older (like 25 or so!) I'll suggest they read my books for the essence of the stories from their great-grandparents and so many other Texans I've met in the past 39 years.


And a special memory of my dad, Art Chancellor, on one of our trips to the Smoky Mountains. I miss you, Daddy.








10 comments:

Kara Lennox said...

Victoria, you made me cry! I miss my Daddy, too.

Anonymous said...

Loved your post Victoria. We did the exact same thing with my 91 year old Dad yesterday -- heard stories from back in the day, and took lots of photos. Some people live vicariously through their children. Recently, I find myself living vicariously through my Dad.
Eric

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

I loved your post, too. I spent the day with 87 yr old dad and took him cookies and rootbeer, his favorite things.

Anonymous said...

Love your post too Vicki. I miss my dad and father in law both. I wish they both were here to see their great granddaughter. from Alan Linville Sr.

Unknown said...

Thanks, everyone, for sharing your memories of your dads. Isn't it great how many shared experiences we have? It truly makes me realize just how we live on through our children and grandchildren. It's much more powerful than being a name on a census form, as we see when we do genealogy research, or a footnote in history if any of us are that lucky.

Unknown said...

For our admins who may need to know "Anonymous," one is my h.s. classmate Eric and another is my cousin, Alan. If you pull their names for free books, I'll tell you how to get in touch with them. Thanks!

Estella said...

Great post!
Your grandchildren are very lucky to have a great grandparent.
I am the only grandparent my grandchildren have.

Nancy from NTRWA said...

>> He's one of the people responsible for me writing about small towns and the people who live there. <<

I owe him a "thanks" because I totally enjoyed the Brody's Crossing books in particular :-)

Richard said...

Thanks so much for a brief trip down that " Lonesome Texas Road " ....Sometimes we forget how difficult life was for that generation of people. They paved the way for us today. Thanks to all the Great men who worked so hard to keep Families together.....Happy Fathers Day
( thanks Vicki )

Unknown said...

Thanks, Nancy, Richard & Estella. I'm sitting in East Texas right now. It's hot and humid, but earlier today I was reminded of how wonderful small towns can be. I walked in on a flooded master bath and first floor bath. The contractor working next door came over first thing this morning with one of his folks and they got all the water up, pulled up carpet, replaced the broken coupling and water hose, etc. And they never mentioned money at all. When it dries out, they'll fix it up for me and I'm sure the work will be great. I'd probably have to wait a week in Dallas IF I could find someone. I love Mineola!