Dad’s Secret Place
My Dad is an African American, born in the 1940s. He and his family were poor and lived on a farm. They would grow and pick everything from cotton to corn and work from sun up to sun down. It was a lot of hard work but it taught my father so many things. Discipline was his middle name. During this time, even though as a kid he wanted to do things that kids do, he had to work to live, to survive, to breathe. It was unlawful for him and many others that looked like him to attend certain places because of segregation and racism infiltrated into the laws of that time. Church and school were places that education and freedom could coexist for little brown bits and girls. My Dad would tell us he was never book smart, but he loved to work with his hands. He would tear things apart only to rebuild. He would continue to do this until he helped build his first house at the age of 17. From that point, his hands were his saving grace. He then began the journey as a carpenter and electrician, building houses for many in and out of the community. Whenever there was something to be fixed, my Dad was that guy. Then there was the call. The call to serve in the United States Army. He was called to serve in the scariest and uncertain of times. My father answered the call. He became a United States soldier and fought in the Vietnam War. He served his country proudly. He would always tell his girls, I don’t ever want you to join the military. My older sister is a hot head and of course she grew up and joined. Back to ny Dad, he fought for his country and was awarded a purple Medal of Honor for his bravery. When we would ask questions about what it was like over there, he would tell us about meeting Bob Hope when he was in the hospital and how he had plenty of rice. He would deliver the mail on the bases over there. He would share what it was like to jump out of a plane. He would tell us how important it was for us to learn a skill and use our hands along with getting an education. As I look outside and see my father in his garden, I smile because he was right. The wisdom he shared I will never forget.