We are heading out to a birthday party around noon, so I decided to blog now!
( I think my mother took this photo..if you notice...I'm only "half there!")
I thought I'd sit and blog about Father's Day before I go out for the day. Today is easier for me to do it than tomorrow. I'm glad for my kids to celebrate Father's Day with David. He's a good daddy. I'll blog about him tomorrow!
Little LuAnn and Daddy
I have always been a big "daddy's girl". My dad passed away in 2001 from Colon Cancer. I don't think anything has ever rocked my world ike that did, and yet I can say that God is so precious to comfort his children. I don't sit and just cry like I used too, but for those of you who've lost a parent, you know that you NEVER stop missing them.
My dad and my sister in law Audrey
(My dad and my brother Steve at Christmas 2000 at my aunt's home)
Edd Ray Ketchie was born March 2, 1935 to Lee and Beulah Ketchie. He was one of five children and was raised in Statesville, NC out near Davie County to farmers. My dad has many jobs over the years...some I remember, some I've been told about. I know he was a milkman at one time. Anyone else remember the milk man coming to your house? I mostly remember him as an Insurance salesman for then Pilot Life Insurance Company. I used to go house to house with him collecting the premiums (that was long before bank draft) and carrying his big black book that had handles on it like a pocket book. I remember my dad wearing the "dress hats" and suits and ties. He would take me to a local restaurant and buy me a BBQ sandwhich with slaw and fries while he sipped coffee and talked to the local men. He was also a mail carrier, starting out part time and then going full time. When I was five we moved churches and he began a journey for me that was monumental in shaping who I am today. My mother didn't attend church with us and my brother was out of the house already ( ten years apart). Our new church was starting a Christian school that year and I enrolled in the first K-5 class. He worked hard to keep me there, mowing the grass and doing odd jobs. He was an avid bus worker. I logged many a miles in the back of a church bus, not getting home till almost 2:00 or later on Sundays. He drove a charter bus and hauled deaf children all over the place and little elderly ladies on trips to the mountains. He was a people person. He could get someone to church and make them feel like he did them a favor in the process. He worked 3 jobs while I was in college. In 1996 we learned of his cancer and God gave us 5 great years. I saw healing between He and my brother and a myriad of love and support from friends and family. Our house in NC is small, and so is the yard, and yet there were days the last few months that I saw up to 30 cars in the yard some days...no stretching the truth...of folks ranging form the Sheriff to former co-workers to church friends and neighbors trying to brighten his day. My dad when he could no longer drive he was ready to go and sure as shooting if he didn't go two weeks later. I won't go into all the details, but there is something about watching someone "pass" who is ready to go that is amazing, still sad, but life changing.
If you have your dad still with you, hug his neck, buy him a nice gift, and spend time with them.
(Steve and Dad in Nassau, Bahamas)
If I'm ever half the mother that he was a dad, then I'll be a great one!
Happy Father's Day to all my blogging friends who are dads, too!
2 comments:
Wonderful tribute to an obviously wonderful man...I got a lump in my throat reading it. Thanks for sharing such an intimate part of yourself and your family. What a glorious reunion you will have one day!!
Luann, that was heartfelt and very touching. What a handsome man he was and he obviously loved his little girl. I remember the milkman very well. Your dad and my dad were both one of five children and both of them worked for the post office.
You'll always have your memories and they get sweeter as time goes by.
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