His eyes twinkled when he smiled.

We all know that the bigger the wedding in comparison to the means of the bride and groom, the more talk occurs if the marriage fails.

When I was young, I would have wanted to have a royal wedding.  I remember buying 80 dollar shoes and my salary was $440 a month.

I learned so much from my father.

1. When they were laying off where he worked, he talked them into letting him work as a custodian until things got better.  A job was better than begging.

2. My dad always said he had a "civil service" personality. He did not care how big a creep a boss or co-worker was. It could be worse.

One year, I had a boss to hassle me because he wanted me to quit so he could hire someone else. I had worked too long to get where I was and I had no guarantee it would be better elsewhere. This is not the answer for everyone but it worked for me.

3. Do a good job. They have to have so many that do the work. Suzie socialite may smooze her way through life but when dollars and cents are on the line, they will keep you.

4. Don't spend all your money.

My dad would never buy himself a soda or hamburger away from home.  Now he would stand and feed nickels to a coke machine for me and my friends on special occasions.  After a football game, he would show up at Krystal and buy a big tray of hamburgers for the kids to eat.

5. Do your best and have faith. My dad would talk about living through the depression where every meal was dried beans, fat back meat and cornbread. They survived.

My dad had the "common touch" and natural leadership. One man on his crew held on to the pocket knives they issued every year. People who did not keep up with theirs would demand he share. My dad backed the man up. No one should be penalized for taking care of their property.

My dad could take a bad situation and have everyone looking at things with hope, be it because of knowing you had to accept the bad or making a joke to break the negativity.

I moved my mom to my home. My dad’s ashes were in the entertainment center. I realized this after the movers placed it in the moving truck wrapped in blankets with the door facing the wall of the truck. I debated getting my dad. The young movers would have freaked out. My family has all laughed. I can see my dad’s blue eyes twinkling.

I miss my dad tremendously. God Rest His Soul.