when Autumn Leaves Start to Fall

Today is not only the first day of fall..
It is also the birthday of my Hero..

a tall, handsome man with black eyes..
black hair..ruddy complexion..

rough, working man hands..
which could also tenderly hold a newly hatched chick..

With only an eighth grade education,,
he was a math genius..
(at least he was to me!)
he knew all about angles, 
and running board feet of lumber..
he could build anything you could describe..
all in beautifully finished detail..
a gifted carpenter..
a house builder..
he built every house we ever lived in..
and there I learned so much
and boats..
and furniture..
a jewelry box for me..
He knew all about  the plants  and trees in the woods..
fishing was his forte..
and i was his fishing buddy from age 5 on..

what he caught, he cleaned ,cooked or saved..
cooking was also one of his greatest accomplishments..
often he was asked "to put on a fish fry " for 50-100 or more folks..
all were filled to the gills with fried fish, hushpuppies, cole slaw..
no one left hungry!
he was a very kind man with a generous heart..

an excellent teacher to anyone who would listen..
beginning with his own four children, 
along with which ever friends happened to be around at the time.
above all.. he was a loving husband and father..
My Hero was my dad..

Celebrating his 78th birthday with all four kids..

sadly he passed away the next year on Father's Day 1994.
I miss him every single day!
so when Autumn rolls around..
I think of the song " When Autumn Leaves start to Fall"
and my Daddy..