Sunday, February 17, 2008

Happy Birthday Daddy


Teamus U. Garrison was born Feb. 18 1927.
He was allowed to live on this earth until the age of 67 when he was taken to his well deserved home above. I have thought of my Dad often since he left us. I think back to the times wile we were growing up. Dad was a coal miner which meant we only had the things we really needed. There was always food on the table. Mother and Daddy would get vegetables from any where they could and put them up for the winter. Many times I had the purple thumb from shelling peas. Once we got some plums from Grandmother. Mother made plum jelly, (a lot!) You could always count on daddy opening a jar of plum jelly and saying "this jelly is plum good". He had a dry sense of humor.
We didn't go on many trips just to go somewhere. The biggest one I remember was to the mountains when I was about 6 years old. I we stayed 2 nights in motels. Most of our vacations were spent at home where we helped work on the house. Daddy wouldn't borrow money to build the house, he would work on it when money or supplies were available. Where the Top Hat cleaners is in Ensley used to be an old house. The bricks are on front of Mothers house and the wood framed ou the roof and floors of the front rooms. He felt that if things got bad, it would be better to stop working instead of missing a payment. I wish I had payed more attention to that lesson. Daddy worked the night shift while we were young, and I would see him for a few minutes after getting home from school before he left for work.
Daddy and mother loved to sing, his favorites were the old gospel songs. He would practice any new song he heard. I thought of other things I wanted to say, but as usual when I started writing my mind went blank. I miss Daddy and I know anyone that knew him misses him. The world lost a great man when he lift. Our loss was Heavens gain.
P.S.Don't forget, tomorrow is J.H. Watkins birthday. he was one day younger that daddy. Daddy had fun being the "Old Man". Daddy, and JH worked in the mines together for many years and became good friends.

3 comments:

Alissa and Brody Silly Nanna said...

I know I miss him very much he was such a good person. I have a great husband who is very much like his Dad in many ways. He shows his love just like his father did. He is a great Dad to his kids just like his father was. Papa will always be with us I never could call him by his name. He is a great man and he is missed very much.

Granna said...

Your Dad was just one of the best. I have many memories, all good. I know David enjoyed running with him and how he would scare the dogs away. I can still hear him say- "Kim-bo". At our Christmas gathering every year he would come early and bring your Mother's crackers with pimento cheese on them. I don't know why we seem to remember insignificant things. Mainly I remember that he loved the Lord and the Church. Yes, our loss was Heaven's gain.

David Courington said...

It is great for me to remenice about your Dad. He was a fine man and a real "mainstay" in the church. His advice was always sound and his temperment helpful in any situation. We did have a great time jogging together. I don't know how long we kept it up, but I know he quit when the doctor advised him to because of a heart murmer. He was so proud to complete that 10K Vulcan Run. Keep up the blogging. I enjoy it.