I remember it had snowed that early evening and dad was telling us girls that he could hear reindeers ontop of the roof of our house and he said he saw them take off. He told us "come look girls", Santa was here" and we went to go look....he had drawn sleigh- marks in the snow and there was a wooden toy piano placed at the door-step.Dad said,"now, who do you think left that for you girls?" Everytime Christmas comes around, I reminisce about dad either playing "Santa" or how he made Christmas fun for us. 



Other times I remember was mom would fix our hair and rat it into a boufont look, put on our white gogo boots and dad would set up his microphones  & PA speaker out side on the porch and get his guitar out and start playing and he would say, "ok  girls, start singing your favorite Tammy Wynnet song and daddy will play along......it was so much fun, we just loved to sing.....I think we were about 7 or 8 yrs old at the time. We loved to go hear dad and his band play music at the VFW club. Dad always did his gigs around our big family gatherings......music was a big part of our life growing up.       

* My Daddy *

Daddy talked to Jesus all the time,

He confessed his faults and told Him what was on his mind.

He’d say, “JC, forgive me, I done said a cuss word and I’m trying to do away with that, cause I know that ain’t how I want to act.”

Yes, daddy talked to Jesus all the time…..as long as the bills were paid, food on the table, everybody getting along , things will be fine.

Daddy would say, “I may not be perfect or how you think I should be, but I don’t like religious folk pointing fingers at me.

“So, don’t go judging me until you’ve walked in my shoes, I don’t answer to anyone, it’s “JC”  I choose.

Dad talked to JC, even at his bed side, he would pray for everybody, that their lives God would guide.

Daddy’s favorite color was red and he loved crosses, in his heart he understood the great promise.

At times dad was grumpy, at times he felt fine, but daddy talked to Jesus all the time.

He enjoyed his kids and grand-kids, he would say, “daughter, come in and have a seat, would you like a soda or something to eat?”

Daddy was generous in his own way, he made sure to give his grandkids a  “Debbie cake” for helping him that day.

Daddy always had his country music a blairin, the radio at his bed-side, or with his guitar, a few songs he was sharin. 

He loved to sing and entertain, play cards and dominos and beat everyone in the game.

Daddy was patriotic with pins stuck in his hat, he was proud of his Country and the good “Ole Flag”.

On a Saturday morning he loved to share, his “chocolate n biscuits” made with tender loving care.

Why his banana pudding was the prize winning desert, it was so sweet, it’ll make your taste-buds turn.

Yup, dad love to cook, he reminds me of Emerald, kickin it up a notch at “hot sauce” central.

Yes, he was famous for mixin up a batch of his sauce, why it was made with habaneros that’ll knock your socks off.

Dad loved to go to Wally-World riding on a shopping cart, when you smelt something funny, you knew he’d passed a big f + + t.

Yes, when daddy did that… it would embarrass me, he’d laugh and think it was funny at times you see.

He loved to tell us his favorite stories, of how he’d sneak his aunt Audi’s guitar without any worries.

Music was his passion, everybody could see, it was a way of expressing himself  to you and to me.  

Daddy was not in good health at the end of his days, he wished earlier in life he’d changed some ways.

He told me not long ago, I done made peace with God when it’s my time to go.

He would say, daughter, don’t go crying over me, but for now we have each other and that’s how it should be.

 If there’s one thing I’ve learned since daddy went away, have a good sense of humor, cherish the ones around you, and talk to Jesus everyday!!                       

Created & Written By: Mindy Carter, daughter of LaDerl Harrison      6/17/2012