’t aware) of how difficult it was for mom and dad to support a family with two growing boys. That may be why dad got a paper route when I was 13. I remember having to get up at 5:30 every Sunday to go with dad to pick up the papers and deliver them. I viDad was a simple man who lived a simple life. Nothing spectacular. Born in 1921, he had an older brother and a younger sister. He attended school through the eight grade, enlisted in the Army during World War II, and spent time in Europe and Alaska. I came along in 1952 and my younger brother in 1958.

I remember mom and dad being quiet, almost passive people. We loved one another but I don’t recall those words ever being spoken. As a kid, there were many things I don’t recall - like growing up in the warm and humid Arkansas summers without air conditioning. We had an attic fan, kept our windows open, and drank plenty of water. There was a creek nearby, so my drinking water didn’t always come from the faucet. There were plenty of times I quenched my thirst by leaning over and drinking from my cupped hands in the flowing water.

We finally got a window air conditioner when I was a teenager. I don’t remember much about the days when we didn’t have it. I also didn’t remember (or wasn’t aware) of how difficult it was for mom and dad to support a family with two growing boys. That may be why dad got a paper route when I was 13. I remember having to get up at 5:30 every Sunday to go with dad to pick up the papers and deliver them. I viv

ng in 1952 and my younger brother in 1958.

I remember mom and dad being quiet, almost passive people. We loved one another but I don’t recall those words ever being spoken. As a kid, there were many things I don’t recall - like growing up in the warm and humid Arkansas summers without air conditioning. We had an attic fan, kept our windows open, and drank plenty of water. There was a creek nearby, so my drinking water didn’t always come from the faucet. There were plenty of times I quenched my thirst by leaning over and drinking from my cupped hands in the flowing water.

We finally got a window air conditioner when I was a teenager. I don’t remember much about the days when we didn’t have it. I also didn’t remember (or wasn’t aware) of how difficult it was for mom and dad to support a family with two growing boys. That may be why dad got a paper route when I was 13. I remember having to get up at 5:30 every Sunday to go with dad to pick up the papers and deliver them. I vi

the warm and humid Arkansas summers without air conditioning. We had an attic fan, kept our windows open, and drank plenty of water. There was a creek nearby, so my drinking water didn’t always come from the faucet. There were plenty of times I quenched my thirst by leaning over and drinking from my cupped hands in the flowing water.

We finally got a window air conditioner when I was a teenager. I don’t remember much about the days when we didn’t have it. I also didn’t remember (or wasn’t aware) of how difficult it was for mom and dad to support a family with two growing boys. That may be why dad got a paper route when I was 13. I remember having to get up at 5:30 every Sunday to go with dad to pick up the papers and deliver them. I vi

y thirst by leaning over and drinking from my cupped hands in the flowing water.

We finally got a window air conditioner when I was a teenager. I don’t remember much about the days when we didn’t have it. I also didn’t remember (or wasn’t aware) of how difficult it was for mom and dad to support a family with two growing boys. That may be why dad got a paper route when I was 13. I remember having to get up at 5:30 every Sunday to go with dad to pick up the papers and deliver them. I vi

’t aware) of how difficult it was for mom and dad to support a family with two growing boys. That may be why dad got a paper route when I was 13. I remember having to get up at 5:30 every Sunday to go with dad to pick up the papers and deliver them. I vividly remember the smell of newspaper print in the car, as dad would drive around. Having to roll the windows down in winter to toss out the newspapers was a mixed blessing. We got fresh air but it was very cold fresh air.

I got married when I was twenty and over the next few years we gave mom and dad three granddaughters that they loved dearly. With our ever-increasing busy lives we didn’t visit mom and dad as often as we should have. When we did, we normally took along at least two of the girls. On one of those occasions, dad wanted to show his granddaughters how a bunny hops. Dad had a sense of humor. He proceeded to get down on all fours on the living room floor with his chest facing up. In a semi-hopping motion, he moved forward feet first with his hands alternately slapping his bottom as he moved. It was a sight to see and one I’ll not forget - neither will they.

The unexpected does not always happen suddenly. With mom it happened slowly. It was more than just forgetting where she left her car key