Memories of Daddy by Jill Card Hazard Wednesday night I was asked to write out a few of my favorite memories of Daddy. Well, as I sat and pondered on which ones I could share with Pastor Ray, I drew a blank. It just did not feel right asking someone else to relay my moments with Dad to all of you; therefore, I decided to tell you myself. Here are a few of the many, many memories I remember of this great man: "I Wanna". This is the name Dad renamed me as--- Why? Because whenever we went to the store I would pester him to buy me something—anyyythinggg! I would say, "Daddy, I want this or I want that". The name seems to fit me even today... Go ahead, ask my husband..... Daddy's Coffee. Dad would always give either Retta or me the last sip of his coffee… Then he would say, "Go make me another cup of coffee." He drank it no matter the time of day or the time of year. Dad loved his coffee..... Fishing and Hunting. Those were Dad's mistresses. Oh he loved Mama—who was a constant thorn in his side with nagging. So he turned to one of his other loves for relaxation. Fishing was in the warm months and hunting in the cold. .... Vacations: Our vacations with Dad were going fishing. In the early years, we didn't stay at the places with electricity or toilets. Coleman lanterns, camping stove, sleeping in a tent or back of whatever vehicle he was driving, old folded up mattress, Mama's boxes of cooking stuff, and a pee-can. These are the things I remember whenever we went fishing. Ask me later if you don't know what a pee-can is. Its better that I don't elaborate on it now..... Gardening. Dad loved his garden. He might not have been the best at it, but it kept us fed. I would go into the garden with Daddy and help him test if the beans were ready by picking one and eating it raw. I thought they were good. We also would walk behind him as he plowed the furrows. We loved the feel of the cold dirt between our toes and the smell of the rich soil. .... The death of the pizza pan. One day, when I was about 14, I told dad to "Shut up". That ticked him off so bad he grabbed the nearest thing and hit me over the head with it. It was a pizza pan, (don't worry; they were cheap and flimsy back then). When he was through it looked like a taco and I learned my lesson. Talk about knockin' some sense into my head. .... Fallin' asleep in the tub. Ok this is the one my sisters love and I asked them not to tell. This is the most embarrassing. I was tired one day after work, I was about 16 I think, I came home and took a bath. Well, I guess I was in there for so long that Daddy got worried. Both he and Mama called me several times but neither could wake me. So Daddy kicks the door in. …. And there I laid, in all my glory, asleep in the tub. I did not bother to even wake up but covered half of myself and fell back asleep. Ummm… Daddy put a new lock on the door… On the OUTSIDE of the door. .... Fried Biscuits. Sometimes work was slow for Dad and our utilities would be turned off. Mom and Dad would pull out the camping stove and both Loretta and I would beg Dad to fry can biscuits and sprinkle sugar on them. Oh boy these are good! Try them one day. You will like them.... Daddy's Stories. I loved dad's stories. He would tell us about living in "the swamp" in Shuqualak.., ..Mississippi..... He would tell us girls about ghosts, what he called "haints", and about growing up with his many brothers and sisters. See Susie for list of his family if you want to know. It's very interesting..... Retta and I fighting. Growing up, Loretta and I, being the closest in age and Susie being moved out already, would fight constantly. In the backseat you would hear, "Daddy, she's touching me. Daddy, she hit me. Daddy, she won't move her feet." I'm sure you parents out there can relate. Anyway, next thing we knew Daddy would holler, " Heeah now, heah heah, you younguns stop" That worked a the first time, but not the 2nd. Next thing we knew, he would pull over and whoop us. Sometimes he didn't pull over, but would just reach back there and pop us a good one on the leg with his big hands.... How many more miles. This was our favorite saying. Whenever we went somewhere, this was the first thing out of our mouths… every few minutes..... Relaxing after Dinner. During the spring and summer months, Daddy would often go outside after supper to relax. Many nights he would be under the Dogwood tree in the old swing. However, more often then naught, you could find him lying on top of his car resting. I joined him often on his car and would look up at the stars or just talk to him. Sometimes I fell asleep. Most times, when I did fall asleep, they would leave me there. Hmmm… wonder why?.... Cars, cars, and more cars. It is no secret in my family that I have had more cars than anyone. Each of my sisters has a different count and it is the biggest running joke between them. To set the record straight, I think it was 13 is the number of vehicles I have had in my life time. (That number 13 follows me around everywhere!) Dad helped me get most of my cars and yes, I have wrecked a few of them. Daddy's Hands. My daddy was a big man. He had the biggest hands I had ever seen. Whenever he held my hand, they were so big, that it would engulf my whole hand. As I got older, I would hold his hand and we would play a game. He would squeeze it so hard to see if I would flinch and holler. Even as he lay on his bed these past two weeks, I would ask him to "hold my hand" and he would squeeze as hard as he could and I would tell him what a good grip he had and flinch for him. I have so many memories of this man that I could go on and on. I will forever hear responding to my greeting with "Hey Darlin'". Life without seeing him will be very hard. Growing up with him wasn't always easy or fun or even adventurous; however, it was definitely memorable. He was a loving man who had problems saying "I love you", unless we said it first, but he showed us in so many ways. He gave his time to his friends and his love to his family. He was a good, strong man. He was my Daddy..... I love you Daddy. ....