Title: First Grade Girl - School Years
Tags: 1 of two 12-5-08
Blog Entry: 11-22-2008 (Flip’s 37th. Birthday) First Grade Christmas First day of school in the first grade was scary for a little boy or girl. Our teacher, Mrs. Chaney was like I said, kinda of a mom as well as a teacher. I started the first grade in 1948. At that time in history if a kid was hurt, lonely, or just needed a hug he or she got the hug. There were no lawsuits, hearings, criminal actions, etc. that followed the hug. It was just a hug that a child needed and a caring teacher gave. Nuff said. I want to include my daddy in this story of my first grade Christmas. My daddy was a generous man and a man of great compassion. What I have to tell of daddy in this story will show that his intention was to make a little girl happy. He did that and maybe she still remembers. I don’t know. What was probably not his intention or at least not primary purpose was to teach me, his youngest child a lesson. He did teach me and it had a profound effect on me that last to this day. Here goes. At Christmas time in Branson’s grade school we put our names in a hat and then drew names for the person for whom we were to buy a Christmas present. I drew a little girls name which I do not remember and wouldn’t tell if I did. She was a quiet little girl, shy, and didn’t participate in anything that may draw attention to herself. I wanted to have picked the name of someone that I knew and liked but I was stuck with this little girl and that was it. I went home from school and gave daddy the slip of paper with the little girls name. My spoiled rotten little ass cried because I didn’t have a name I wanted. Daddy recognized the name and knew the family. He also knew that they were poor and this little girl wouldn’t have a “big” Christmas. Daddy took the paper with her name and said he would get her something. I told him that there was a $1.00 limit but he didn’t have to spend that much. My daddy was a law abiding man but sometimes rules just didn’t work well for him. This was one of those times. The last day of school before Christmas vacation came and Mrs. Chaney’s first grade was having a party and exchanging presents. I had a big box all wrapped up with pretty Christmas paper and a bow and the little girls name on a tag attached to the package. Went across the yard and got on the school bus and off to school but not like any other day. The present I carried didn’t mean much of anything to me (I didn’t know what was in it) except this was a party day at school and then we were out of school for a few days. We had the Christmas party, exchanged presents, and I only remember one single thing about it. All the rest is fuzzy. When that little girl opened the big pretty package with her name on a tag that I had carried to school my life changed forever. She opened the box and took out a big beautiful doll (way past the dollar limit) and what I saw in that little girls eyes and face is still with me. She was looking at and holding a doll that was past anything she had ever dreamed was possible for her to hold and have for her own. The absolute joy in her face taught me a lesson in caring that can’t come from a book. I will never forget what my daddy did for a little girl and for his youngest child. I don’t want to leave the impression that I was a good kid after that. I wasn’t. But the were times and always have been when daddy’s lesson plays out in the things I do. I have had opportunities to do something nice for another person and the effect on the recipient is far more valuable than the cost to the giver. I also had many opportunities to see my daddy helping others that had less than him and had a greater need. Daddy wasn’t a “do-gooder,” he just couldn’t be any other way. One time my brother Albert brought some of his friends to Taney county to go Deer Hunting. (Albert had kids older than me so I didn’t grow up with him) This was probably in the early 50’s and Taney county was the best place for Deer in the state. Now they are all over the place. Daddy, Albert and friends, left at early-thirty to go get a deer. They were back at the house by mid morning with no deer. Odd to be back so soon. I was glad to see them. Albert and friends were nice to me and made me feel important so I was glad to see them. They were too busy to mess with me. While out hunting they came across a Cabin out on the timber. Daddy went and looked in the peoples trash and from what he was he wasn’t happy. They weren’t eating very well. Daddy went to the door, knocked, introduced himself and inquired about the families welfare. Not good. Daddy made Albert and his friends give him all the money they had on them and with his money gave it all to the mother of the family. That wasn’t enough so the hunting was over for that day. Daddy, Albert & friends came back to the house because they had shopping to do. They spent the rest of the day at the grocery store, clothing store, shoe store, and hardware store, then delivering the goods. Turned out Albert’s friends had the best “Deer Hunting Day” of their lives. I could see it in them and they talked about it. No big deal to daddy. That’s just who he was. He couldn’t rest knowing those folks were in need. Everyone knows that their parents are the best ever. I know mine were the best for me and my siblings. My boys are grown men now. I have taken great pleasure in seeing them help others that have been in need.
VIEW FULL VERSION: Link