(Continued here from other page) ... However, the next day the same ROTC officer called Dad in and told him: “Apparently the Navy needs fighters as well as brains, so I have decided to graduate you.” Dad served five years and saw lots of action in the Pacific, he also was indefatigable at boxing and became top ranked. “I am the number one champion of the world, if you don’t believe me, just ask me,” he would say.
Like I mentioned Dad's father died when Dad was very young. His mom was left with three kids to raise on her own. She had a little grocery store that she operated successfully. Dad remembers those days, and the songs that his mom would sing; one song till this day brings tears to Dad’s eyes:
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff’ring and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.
***
Mom and Dad would hold hands on the couch every evening at ten o’clock news time, and discuss the decisions that had to be made. One time Mom and Dad went to New Orleans to decide whether he should take a job with his life-long friend Bob Lanier. They decided it was best to join Lanier in his enterprises, rather than be transferred to Kansas City with his current employer, Stauffer Chemical. “We called Bob Lanier from New Orleans and told him I would take the job,” Dad tells.
In a career that is difficult to summarize, Dad was Land Developer, Bank President, Broker, Appraiser, and Small Business Owner ... just to name a few hats he wore.
On vacation one time Dad took us all to Acapulco, where we found ourselves privileged ... staying at the Hotel Princess Resort. The resort had a big old, spread out, man-made pool, that had a waterfall. I noticed one afternoon that people were going under the waterfall and not coming right back out. So I swam under the waterfall, and there was Dad, smiling like I never saw before and he said, “Patrick, have you ever seen a better place to have a drink?” There was a bar under the waterfall.
***
Neighbors would drop by and parley with us about long life and new life, such as children and grand children. One widow dropped by while Dad and I were sitting outside and after a while she said “You are going to squeeze every last moment out of this life, aren’t you Robert?”
While sitting on the swing last Summer, Dad would ask me what were some sounds he heard; Dad was dependent on hearing aids in both ears. Well it seems, all day long a very persistent dove made his haunting call from the tall trees surrounding us. “What on earth is that dove doing making that sound all the time?” asked Dad. Many of you know what doves sound like, a two note melancholy wail, one after the other.
I told him it was a turtle dove calling for a mate. Then I would recite this story for him that made him smile:
Yonder doth sit that little turtle dove
He doth sit on yonder high tree
a’ Making a moan
For the loss of his love
As I will do for thee, my dear,
As I will do for thee.
Oh the sea will never run dry, my dear,
Nor the rocks ever melt in the sun,
But I never will prove false
To the Bonnie Lass I love
Till all these things be done, my dear,
Till all these things be done.
***
I mentioned Mom and Dad’s life together is so full, that it is difficult to summarize. That is why I know they are joined in Heaven, continuing their love story, having one more dance around the pool.
They are both there now in the spiritual realm, so we all better watch our steps.
Heaven, be happy, a beautiful man and a beautiful woman have entered your gates, and they are dancing to your eternal music.
