How will I be remembered?

How will you?

Some say, ‘He (or she) never had an unkind word to say about anyone.’ In contrast, unkind words are often spoken. ‘The world is better off without him (or her)!’

How will we be remembered?

I remember my father-in-law as a quiet man.

The fish bait man, A.N. Davis filled the role of husband and father. The quiet man and wife Cora began their workdays before daylight. Many customers were likely unaware of the tedious hours of work required to provide shiners, crickets and worms. It was not an occupation for the faint of heart.

It was one well suited to Daddy; he loved being outdoors. He thrived in fresh air and open spaces. In the few short years that I knew him, he never said a lot. He just went about his fish bait business.

I do recall one personal conversation. It revolved around his son, my husband Norm. As a boy of nine years old he had decided on a career as a D.J. in radio. In this instance, I was listening to the radio while visiting in the home of my mother and father-in-law.  He turned my attention towards the radio asking, “Do you like that as much as Norman does?”

Being an outdoor man, I think Daddy had difficulty grasping why working in radio meant so much to his son. My answer was ‘Yes.” I grew up in a home filled with the sounds of music. My family began every morning with music from the radio.

Actions do speak louder than words. Daddy was a quiet man but his actions were heard in the rural town of Oak Grove, Louisiana.