I talk about my Mother....A LOT! It was my Mother in the last 15 years of my life before her passing, who prayed for me and nurtured my thirst for the things of Christ. But truth be told I didn't really have a good relationship with my Mom until AFTER my Dad passed away.... you see, I was a Daddy's Girl!
It was my Dad who doted on me and took me EVERYWHERE with him, even if it were only to the corner store...he'd always say "Get in the car" I'd always say "Where we goin' Daddy" and he'd reply "Just shut-up and Ride" And we'd giggle and laugh! He wasn't being mean, it was just our normal routine and between my Dad and I, shut-up, in this case, was a term of endearment.
My Father worked hard, and made sure I had everything I needed to be successful in this life. He did ALL the things for me my Mom couldn't do while she worked and attended Nursing school. I rarely saw my Mom until the weekends. So it was my Dad who would attend ALL the school functions, PTA, Bake Sales, Plays, Recitals, etc. He would take my friends and I to Belle Isle on some weekends, but EVERY Friday my CLOSE friends and I would wait in anticipation of him getting off work from Ford Motor Company so we could hop in the car and be treated to Dot & Etta's Shrimp. Before we'd leave, he always asked each one of us if we'd been good, and whether we DESERVED a reward....now what do YOU think we said? :)
My Dad was VERY HANDSOME and SO COOL! He'd swagger to McGraw Elementary for Show and Tell and bring his Super 8mm Projector and Movies (He loved photography and movies) and share with my classmates our trips, and other fun stuff we used to do. He'd be the only daddy who accompanied us on our school field trips. (Personally I think he liked all the attention from the Ladies)
I was very proud of my Dad! Even in the '60's there weren't too many 2 parent households on my block, the kids that knew him, didn't call him Mr. Anderson, they called my Dad their dad. Even if THEY HAD daddies, and I liked that! I wasn't a bit jealous, because I KNEW he was MY REAL DADDY. Besides it made me feel as if I actually had brothers and sisters, since I was an only child.
I could do ABSOLUTELY NO WRONG in my Dad's eyes and I took full advantage of that knowledge. I could (and would) do just about ANYTHING (within reason) I could think to do and get away with it, because I knew JUST HOW to play him. Mom was the disciplinarian so I tipped lightly around her, but when DADDY CAME HOME....she might as well go somewhere and sit in a corner cause I RAN THE SHOW.
My father loved to hear me sing and play, and we'd pretend to have talent shows where "I" was the ONLY star. I'd make my entrance from the top of the staircase, and as I approached the landing which doubled as my stage, I'd prompt him by saying.."duce me daddy" and he'd say in his beautiful baritone voice "Now Introducing the Brightest Star to ever Grace this Stage My Baby, Sherryl Renee Anderson." I'd be adorned in my Mom's high heels, hat and fur stole (shhh she didn't know about the fur) I'd blush and take requests....and we'd sing together for hours..we were BOTH SUCH BIG HAMS :)
Don't get me wrong, it wasn't ALL fun and games, Daddy would TAP THAT BOOTY if he had to. Like the time I knocked his brand new '64 Ford Galaxy out of gear and it ROLLLLED down the driveway in the middle of McGraw, while I was trying to show off to my friend. OH yeah he got with me AND HER on that day!(Back then Parents were allowed to whoop all unruly booties If you try that now, SOMEBODY's going to catch a case, or WORSE)
Nope, Dad didn't like to spank me, so he left that task to Mom and she was REALLY VERY GOOD AT IT!
My Dad would kneel with me as I said my prayers each night and wouldn't try to rush me, but patiently waited as I named EVERYBODY I could think to name. My Uncles and Aunts, ALL my TEACHERS, ALL my FRIENDS, ALL my NEIGHBORS, ALL my Church Members, Frank & Joe who ran the corner Grocery, My Talking Parakeets.... I had a VERY LONG LIST.
I VIVIDLY remember when I was 4, I rolled my tricycle down that same driveway in the middle of traffic and miraculously my dad was there to rescue me. I prayed that night for everyone as usual, but made a special side note to the Lord thanking Him for saving my life but to please put some brakes on my Tricycle. When my daddy started laughing UNCONTROLLABLY, I remember looking up at him, and being a bit perturbed because I didn't understand What could possibly be so funny.
Daddy always told me I could do ANYTHING in the world I chose to do, and provided me with the tools to do just that. He bought Encyclopedias, and Childcraft books, kept me in Conservatories for Music, and Science, enrolled me in Maxine Powell's Charm School and I took Modeling classes, yes he made sure I would have options in life.
My Dad took a huge gamble and invested in a piano when I was 5 years old. Music and playing the piano could have very well been just one of those Childhood whims, but he believed I'd excel at the piano and I did, and I was classically trained, until the age of 14.
It was my Dad who bathed me, combed my hair, fixed my breakfast, taught me to cook, the value of a dollar, how to save and manage money, one of the reasons I was able to buy my first home at the age of 19.
Yes, George Anderson was a very special man. He was a very FUNNY MAN and for many years, I'd be referred to as my "Daddy's Child" because I didn't look or even act like my Mom, who was reserved and very conservative.... I don't even see how these two EVER got together to tell you the truth.
I lost my Dad when I was just 25 years old and although I was kinda married, owned my own home, car had a great job, my life changed FOREVER on July 15, 1981.
Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of my dad to share with you. I lost them in the "fire" and I've had many fires in my life. But I'm thankful those images are so etched in my memory, it's as if I can reach out and touch his face. I'm also thankful the lessons my Dad taught me as a child PREPARED me for what was ahead. Certainly not everything, but enough of a foundation where I'd be able to stand, persevere, and carry on.
I talk about my Dad... A LOT, in my book, "In Case of Emergency", but TODAY I'm sharing just a few fond memories and the great times we had. It's my first opportunity to share my dad with the WORLD, and I wanted those who didn't know him to meet him through this note, and those who DID, to help me Celebrate his life!
Whether he accomplished ANY other thing during his lifetime is not important, not to me anyway....just know George Anderson was BORN to be my Daddy!
Love & miss you Daddy YOUR ONLY LITTLE GIRL
Sherryl (bear hugs & sugar kisses)
Thanks for reading......
