Featured Blog
A Lesson from Dad
Monday, April 28, 2014 by Sally Jo
Personal Background Investigation- Assignment #16
What is a lesson you learned from your father?
(Example)
Moving 100 lb. Sacks of Fertilizer
Sometimes I listened to my dad’s instructions, but many times his advice only aroused my curiosity until I tried what he told me not to do.
One day we loaded the mule wagon with several 100-pound sacks of fertilizer to put out on our plowed field. Dad knew about how far the fertilizer plow would go before it had to be refilled, so we were dropping off the bags at these locations. I was driving the wagon and my dad would drag a bag to the rear of the wagon, jump out, back up to the tail gate and gently pull the 100-pound sack onto his back. He then walked to the exact spot he wanted to leave it and dropped it. Naturally, I wanted to try this but Dad smiled and said, “No, it’s much too heavy. The sack weighs more than you.” I still thought I could handle it.
My opportunity came sooner than I expected. Someone came down the road on an old car, stopped at the fence and started blowing the horn. Dad recognized the man as a member of his church. He told me to sit tight and went to see what the man wanted. I got tired of waiting and decided to prove my dad wrong and unload a bag by myself.
I was 12 years old and thought I could do anything my dad did. I backed up to the wagon and pulled the sack on my back and immediately went to the ground, face down, with the 100-pound bag on top of me. I barely had enough space to breathe and holler for dad. I lay there until he came and pulled the bag off. The perfect imprint of my body remained on that freshly plowed ground.
My dad just smiled and continued to unload the bags. He asked if I wanted to try another bag and I replied, “No sir.” He always gave me good advice, but I didn’t always heed it. I learned I had a knack for unintentionally proving my dad right. (From LaVelle Pitts, memoirs)
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