l and my wanting to spend time with my friends. Subsequently, my father retired from the postal service and received his real estate license. My parents began talking about moving to Mississippi in 1986. I could tell by his facial expression that he did not want to move, but he loved my mother and wanted to make her happy. Daddy didn't complain about moving, although I know he never wanted to move to away. He lived in the small town of Carthage, Tennessee all of his life and I know it was very difficult for him to leave. At age18, I became pregnant with my son Kristopher and decided not to tell either of my parents. I feared the worst and hoped for the best. The night my parents confronted me about the pregnancy still stands out in my mind. It was only the second time I can remember seeing my dad cry. (The first time was in 1987 when his mother died.) I felt as if I had stabbed him in the heart. He was infuriated but never said a harsh word about it. All I received from him was support, ideas of what to name the baby and coaching tips on how to teach the baby to play baseball. I never realized until lately what sacrifices my father made for me. I took the material things for granted, not comprehending the financial burden they put on my father.Unbeknownst to me, he would lay awake at night wondering how he would pay for things. He never wanted me to know how difficult things were financially. I can remember my dad having two jobs when I was in high school, but I never realized he was working so hard so that I could have expensive things. We never became very close because his work kept him away from home. The most devastating time of my life was the day he passed away. It was as if I had lost a part of my soul I could never recover. If I could turn back the hands of time, I would tell him how much he mean to me and about the impact he had on the way I raise my children. I will always treasure the few memories I have of him...
