A Flag/Father’s Day Hodgepodge…

 

Happy Wednesday!  It’s been a couple of weeks since the last Hodgepodge, but it’s back, and I’m glad!  As always, I’m thankful to our gracious hostess, Joyce, who keeps The Hodgepodge up and running.  Here are today’s questions:

1. The Hodgepodge lands on June 14th this week, Flag Day in the US of A. Do you fly your country’s flag at home? Sometimes, often, or every single day? Have you ever visited the city of Brotherly Love (Philadelphia)? Did you make a point of seeing The Betsy Ross House? Have you ever made a trip to Baltimore? If so, was Fort McHenry on your itinerary? (where Francis Scott Key was inspired to write The Star Spangled Banner)

We don’t fly a traditional American flag, but I have two patriotic garden flags that I fly around Memorial Day and the Fourth of July.  Does that count?  I’ve never been to Philadelphia or Baltimore.  I’ve spent all of my life here in the deep south.

2. Red flag or white flag? Which have you encountered most recently? Explain.

Recently, I’ve encountered both.  Let’s just say someone else waved the red flag, and I waved the white flag, and let’s leave it at that.

3. Are you a stay in the car listen to the end of a song kind of person? What kind of person is that?

Yes, I’ll stay in the car and listen to the end of a song, if it’s one of my old favorites I haven’t heard in a while.  I’m not sure what kind of person that makes me.  Sentimental, perhaps?

4. What are some of the traits or qualities you think a good dad possesses? In other words, what makes a good dad?

In my opinion, a good dad should be “hands on” from the start.  In other words, one who’s not afraid to change a diaper, give a bottle, or rock a crying baby.  He should be patient, nurturing, loving, and unselfish with his time, but he should also be willing to discipline, when necessary.

I’ve just described my husband, Ed.  He changed our baby’s diapers before I did, and did his fair share of bathing, rocking, and feeding, as well.  This was a tremendous help to me, and helped him build an early bond with our children.  No matter how tired Ed was, he never said no when one of the children asked him to do something.  In fact, I don’t remember him refusing them anything they’ve ever asked of him, even now.  Ed even returned our daughter’s wedding dress, after her wedding was called off.  How’s that for a good dad?

What’s an expression you associate with your father?

I can’t remember any specific expressions, so I’ll just tell a bit about my daddy.  He was very devoted to my mama, and loved her with all his heart. He had a good personality, and got along well with everybody.  He had a tender heart, and cried easily.  He also had a ‘green thumb’ and could grow a beautiful vegetable garden.  One funny thing I do still remember about him was, upon first hearing the term “chicken fingers” (strips of breast meat) he thought they were talking about actual chicken fingers 🙂  Daddy passed away 26 years ago, following a long illness, shortly after his 65th birthday.

5. What’s one rule you always disagreed with while growing up? Is that rule somehow still part of your adult life? Is that a good or bad thing?

I can’t think of a single rule I disagreed with while growing up.  (I’m a ‘rule follower’ at heart.)  My parents actually gave me very few rules to follow. I had to clean up the kitchen every night, take care of my bedroom, and, occasionally, I had to help clean the rest of the house.  That was pretty much it.  Oh, and I had to be home from dates by 11:30–but Ed could stay at my house as long as he liked because our time together was so scarce. (Ed was in the army, and wasn’t around much)

Random:

us, with the pastor who married us

This coming Sunday will be Father’s Day, but Ed and I will also celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary on that day.  Yes, we married on Father’s Day, 45 years ago, just three short weeks after Ed was released from the army and I graduated from high school.  I’m so thankful to God for bringing us together!  We’ll be celebrating with our customary trip to Kentucky Fried Chicken (and the beach).  We’ve been celebrating anniversaries with KFC every since our wedding night–when the store manager gave us our first meal as husband and wife for free.

us, last year, with our complimentary gift bucket from KFC