One of a Kind

William McKinley was President when my dad, Robert Bryan Day, was born. People got from place to place by train or horse and wagon or riding horseback or they walked. At least, that was true of the Day family in rural Arkansas. Dad saw many, many changes during his eighty-eight years on this earth, from horses to landing on the moon; from the Great War to end all wars to Viet Nam which took the life of his oldest grandchild. He and my mother weathered many storms which would have devastated anyone else, including, I suspect, me. But, rather than dwelling on those things, I’d like to accentuate the positive, which is what Dad always did.

“How are you today, Dad?” I would ask, coming in the front door for a visit.

“Never felt better or had less,” Dad would say.

I’m sure at times he must have had headaches, been tired, had aches and pains, but I never, ever heard him complain and I never heard him curse or repeat an off-color joke. By the way, he didn’t allow alcohol in his house, including beer or wine. He didn’t need them and knew the heartache they caused to many.

He did, however, love to sing and dance an Irish jig. He liked to tell jokes, and he delighted in figuring out a math problem while I was still wondering how to get it down on paper.

When I was in high school and played in Tahlequah’s marching band, many times the band went out of town for ball games or other functions. Often, we got back to the band room some time around midnight. Dad was always there, waiting to take me home.We lived about 13 miles from town,  plus the fact that Dad was an early-to-bed, early-to-rise sort of person, but he was always there.

I have heard General Jackson of the Confederacy referred to as Stonewall Jackson. Well, to me, Dad was a stone wall, standing between me and the results of any possible misadventures. I could count on him to always be there when I needed him. Was he gruff at times? Maybe. Was he stubborn and, to a youngster, did he appear unreasonable in his expectations? Probably so. But, I knew that he loved me and the rest of his children and grandchildren, although I never heard him say those words.

He never accumulated a lot of silver and gold but he did have a sterling character and reputation. He was known for his honesty and hard work. He was a man that could be counted on. A handshake to Dad was as binding as a contract. I wish there were more men like him today.

My dad was one of a kind and today would have been his birthday. He has been gone a number of years but I still miss him. When I was a child, I used to sort of feel sorry for other kids who couldn’t claim my parents as their own. I thanked God that of all the parents in the world, He gave me Mom and Dad. And, you know, those feelings haven’t changed a bit.

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