Fathers Day

110 years ago, July 25, 1915, my father, Clyde Daniel Cooksey was born to a Tuckers Crossroads, TN, farmer named John James Cooksey and his wife Notie Cooksey. We called him Pop.

He grew up during the Great Depression and talked of taking onion sandwiches to school for lunch. It was a hard life. Toward the end of the Depression he married my mom, Dorothy Virginia Erwin on May 12, 1939.

During World War II, he worked at a dairy so his job was considered essential. He and mom also brought my sister, Jane, into this world on January 6, 1942, almost one month after the Pearl Harbor attack. I came into this world on August 16, 1945, exactly one month after the first detonation of the atomic bomb on July 16, 1945 at the Trinity site in New Mexico.

So you could say my sister started the war and I ended it. (Just kidding, Sis.)

I wanted to remember my father on this day to remember what I learned from him – the importance of hard work. My father was not an emotional man. I never heard him tell my mother he loved her. I don’t remember him saying he loved Jane or me.

But, I know he loved us and his hard work was his way of showing that love. I believe he wanted to be sure we didn’t go through what he experienced during the depression.

I know Fathers and Mothers Days are not great for everyone, but I was blessed. I had a father and mother who loved Jane and me.

I hope and pray I am a good father to our two sons, our two lovely daughters-in-law, and our grandchildren. If I am in any way, it’s by God’s grace.

The one thing I do know on this Fathers Day is my father in heaven loves me even though I don’t deserve it.

PS: The picture shows my mom and dad holding our two cats, Sylvester and Silas. They kept them for us while I was in graduate school. My dad reluctantly agreed as he felt cats were only good for catching things, not living indoors.

He changed his mind when they started catching moles and bringing them to his door. They were earning their keep and he was satisfied.