Six of my seven children, with Joe being the second from the left with a big grin.
The time my father really surprised me was when . . .
Carol Rickman, Contributor
One reader shares a loving memory of her father.
My father was a man of very few words. Being a man of great stature, he worked the railroad from the time he was 14 and was seldom home. When he was, he didn't have a lot to say, so when he did open his mouth, everyone listened.
When I gave birth to my second child, Joe, I was delighted. I already had a girl and his arrival evened the score.
Dad had never visited any of the new grandbabies, so when he chose to visit, I was beside myself.
At that time, the hospital staff taught new moms to lay babies on their tummies, so that's what I did. Unfortunately, Joe was a restless baby and flipped his head from side to side a lot. In doing so, he rubbed a little raw spot on his nose, which scabbed over, creating a tiny blemish on this otherwise perfect new human being.
When people would visit, they would avoid the subject, saying things like, "Oh, look, what a bruiser." "I bet he's a good baby." "What a cute little outfit."
I worried about my dad coming and seeing Joe's little nose. When he entered the room, I held my breath. I was so proud of this darling little bundle and I wanted dad to be also.
He looked down into the bassinet and his face changed. 'Here it comes,' I thought.
Finally, he spoke.
"That is the pertiest d*** baby I ever saw."
This was the one time I recall him saying exactly what I needed to hear and I cherish the memory.
When I gave birth to my second child, Joe, I was delighted. I already had a girl and his arrival evened the score.
Dad had never visited any of the new grandbabies, so when he chose to visit, I was beside myself.
At that time, the hospital staff taught new moms to lay babies on their tummies, so that's what I did. Unfortunately, Joe was a restless baby and flipped his head from side to side a lot. In doing so, he rubbed a little raw spot on his nose, which scabbed over, creating a tiny blemish on this otherwise perfect new human being.
When people would visit, they would avoid the subject, saying things like, "Oh, look, what a bruiser." "I bet he's a good baby." "What a cute little outfit."
I worried about my dad coming and seeing Joe's little nose. When he entered the room, I held my breath. I was so proud of this darling little bundle and I wanted dad to be also.
He looked down into the bassinet and his face changed. 'Here it comes,' I thought.
Finally, he spoke.
"That is the pertiest d*** baby I ever saw."
This was the one time I recall him saying exactly what I needed to hear and I cherish the memory.
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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, click a button on any page to send email with details of the request.