Graph#10

Person Graf:

                        Do we really know who is responsible for molding us into who we are today? Most girls would say their Moms and most guys would say their Dads, right? Well, I would have to say that it was my Papa that taught me to be the person that I am today. Maybe it was becasue I was the first born, maybe he thought of me more of a son or maybe it's just the stereotypical father-daughter bond. Either way, I always thought it was because we were so much alike. Our characteristics were very much alike, even as a baby my grandmother would say. I think she meant attitude though. He was stubborn, but easy going, also being stern, yet softhearted. He played so many different roles in my life growing up. I felt bad as it overlooked my mother sometimes.
                        "Ok, now hold your bat like this," Pa would say. As he would demonstrate the stance and mimic the ever so famous "homerun" hit. That was how I always held my bat and swung at the ball, even though it wans't always a homerun, but it kept me competative. He would always remind me to keep that index finger on the outside of the glove, too. And there was the fishing. How he would love to go hornpouting (catfishing for some) at night or to take us nightcrawling late at night. Maybe it sounds kind of hick, but they were great childhood memories! He would fire up his cigar while fishing or outsideat night because he said that it kept the bugs away.  Okay, so kids believe that! But then again he really did believe it did. And let's not forget the lesson he taught on how to put your worm on the hook. Yikes, how icky that was! Even how disgusting it felt, I did it because my Pa showed me how. And even though you thought that fish you caught with that worm was huge, he was there to say, "Oh, let this one go and we'll get a bigger one." I guess it was his way of not being greedy and responsible. Or maybe just going after the best? However, my Pa was not very good at the 'going to the other parent to ask' when the other one had already said 'NO'. Pa's very simple response of, "What did your Mother say?" and the answer would be, "She said to ask you." Very important lesson here. I've learned to make sure everyone is in the same room when asking and answering with my children. No confusion there!
                          Though the years have passed, my father has tried to instill these same simple values into his grandchildren. I say simple because they were. He taught me to do my best no matter how big or small the task was. He had also taught me not to give up and to keep trying. Though he taught me these lessons without any thought of doing it. Would he have thought that playing baseball with your child would show them that they could be a hard working, competative and structured person? Probably he did not. He did it to create special family time with his kids. My Pa is a hardworking man. Working on mill machinery bolted to cement floors 5:30am to 2:30pm every day, five days, sometimes seven days a week for the past thirty plus years, endurance was his key. He still made the time and energy to raise his children. May sound small, but how many kids can say that their Dad was always there every day they came home from school and want to play ball or go fishing? And in the meantime, teaching them the tactics of life. I can truly say that I am proud to be like my Dad and I couldn't think of being any other way.