Tribute to Daddy

In 2002 David and I took a trip to Louisiana. I walked the streets where my Mom and Dad walked. Those two days will forever be engraved in my memory.


Let me take you back.



As we drove into Southern Arkansas the atmosphere was changing. It felt like it was charged with millions of tiny pink electrons. Every color was more vibrant. Each shade of green stood out. The trees were draped with a moss hanging to the ground. I marveled at the moss. The beautiful green moss.

The streams had a green scum on them, As we stopped at a boardwalk, I saw a trail through the green muck, it was a trail left by a frog, (per David) I was sure it was a crocodile.

The water was not dirty, that was just the color.

As we drove in to Bienville Louisiana, we saw a town that time seemed to have forgotten. ( I was thankful for that). It gave me a look into life as it was in 1938. A time my Mom and Dad walked these streets.

As we approached the town, I wanted to walk around. We parked the car by an old Cotton mill and began a walk, We walked up and down several streets, We marveled at the gardens and how prolific the flowers were. We stopped and looked at church fronts and the beautiful details that we knew was placed there by men, using rough tools, but creating a piece of art.

As we walked, the streets felt familiar, like a page out of history, coming to life in my world.

I was walking on a street my Daddy had walked on in 1938. It was a feeling I will never have again. I was like a kid, tears came to my eyes several times as I pictured him on some of the streets. I wondered what he did, how he talked, how he approached people, I am sure he was admired, as my daddy was a talker.

I would picture him a young man, in his 20's being jaunty and jovial. He had a swagger (per my mom) in his step, as a young man.

My daddy had black hair, Jet black, he had clear blue eyes, A beautiful combination.

He was also a Ladies man before He met Mama, when he met her and married, if he wanted to be a run around my Mom would put an end to him. (Really)

Next we had to find Bienville parish, We began driving again, We drove deeper and deeper into the countryside. At one point we passed a very small, Train depot. When my Mom arrived in Louisiana, to be with my Dad after they married, She told me she rode a train and debarked in Bienville. That was the first time she had been more than ten miles from where she was born. It was an adventure for her. I was seeing the train depot she walked into as a young woman of 19. The train tracks were still there, but appeared to be idle.

We had to find the parish, Beinville Parish, As we drove down the magnolia lined, two lane roads we were in awe. (Little did we know a parish is like a county, so we were in the parish all along.)

The humidity hung so heavy in the Louisiana air, we were seeing pink. Truly the air was pink. Again we were in awe.


What a wonderful place to be, in the midst of such beauty, A beauty only God could create.


Now I knew what my Dad referred to, when he spoke of the old country roads.. I saw it first hand.


At one point we stopped at at he court house.(we thought) The house was one you read about in novels written about the south, It was magnificent.

As David got out of the car an elderly black gentleman walked out. We asked if we were at the local court house. He stated,with a big toothy grin, No in fact this was his home and he was in the many year long process of remodeling it.


In the front yard was the most amazing tree I had ever seen. It was a magnolia. I have seen many magnolia trees but none like this. Each branch came to the ground and re rooted, Each branch became a tree. Each branch was rooted and had massive blooms. Again we sat and just enjoyed the beauty.


We did not pass one car, we did not see one person. We did see lots of home places. Lots of farms, Lots of signs of life.

One old red hound was walking slowly down the road as we drove deeper into the country. At one point we stopped at a local mom and pop store and asked where Bienville Parish was located. We were told. "You are standing in the middle of it."
I had to have a chocolate soda, that was something I always had when, as a child, we traveled. But alas there was none to be had. I settled for a Bargs.

We loved our trip down memory lane. As we passed a huge field we saw a sign, "Bonnie and Clyde days Sept 13-14. We were not going to be in town then. We were very disappointed.
I wanted to see the reenactment of the chase and shoot out.

I had heard my dad speak of them or some other notorious outlaw of the 30's but my memories were vague, as vague as the sun trying to peek through the humid air.

When we decided to enjoy the local food, we stopped in at a quaint little town restaurant. It was full of people. Locals. In the back room, I am sure the local politicians were there. One came in, with the air of someone running for office, he shook hands,he introduced himself and he kept watching us. I am sure he though t "Oh Maybe new constituents in my area."

The menu was pretty basic. Basic for the south. Pinto Beans, hush puppies, southern fried catfish, Sweet tea. Had to put that in there. When I asked for unsweetened tea they offered to make me a "jug". I declined, they did not have decaffeinated. "Such a strange request, No one ever ask for unsweetened tea, let alone a glass of decaffeinated." I had to laugh. I had just stepped on a time honored tradition.

I assured the waitress I was fine with water, in fact Water was perfect.

We completed our meal and decided we just could not leave this quaint town, We found a motel room closer to the interstate and had another day of enjoyment.
When My Daddy told me about this place, i never dreamed I would walk where he walked.

It was amazing.
My Aunt Lucille, Mamas sister, told me she spent time with them at one point, She said, her and a girlfriend slipped off to town. They Saw my Daddy approaching, At that point they hid behind a building, Daddy found them He told her to go on home with Lou where she belonged.
She laughed and said, "All we did was buy a coke and I think we went to a movie."
I learned so much from a few minutes with her and I had lots of questions and I know I have many more.

I lost my Daddy in 1957. He was a kind man and I miss the times he could have had. I know his life was too short and I feel cheated, in ways. What would it have been like to have a Daddy to teach me to tie my shoes, to play games with me.
I do have to say, he did show me a lot of the world in his short time, He taught me all Men are Created Equal, He taught me about being a lady, He showed me streams that rushed out of the ground with water as sweet as any you can imagine.
I drank from those streams with his Prince Albert Can. He would scoop back the leaves and debris and we would quench our thirst.
Even though he left us so early I will never forget what he taught me.
so on this Fathers Day I remember my Daddy.