Saturday, February 15, 1975 was my day. I remember spending the day at a Turkey Shoot, or Skeet Shoot, if you prefer. The event was held behind the Loop Community Building and served as a fund raiser for some organization, but I don’t remember which. I remember that Dad was the manager of Five Points Gin, and that all of the gin owners showed up. Someone decided that all of the participants who represented the gin could shoot at the gins expense all day long, and I took full advantage of it. I have no idea how many rounds I shot that day. I do know that the event has had a lasting effect on me, but that’s another story for another day.
Today’s story has to do with it being my day on KSEL 950 AM Radio. That’s why I can tell you where I was, and what I was doing that day, because I can remember hearing the DJ that morning say “Kent Smith this is your day on KSEL!” I know, I know, KSEL Radio 950 AM gave away a day everyday, but so what I was still one of three hundred sixty-five people who a day on the radio in 1975. To tell you the truth what made it special was who had sent in my name to the station. That was a wonderful birthday gift, and I will never forget it.
I’ve had a lot of special Birthday’s in my life. I can’t say that I remember the specifics of most of them. I know that growing up my BD evening was most likely spent at Granddad Clark’s house with a fresh freezer of strawberry ice cream being the center of a lot of laughter and love. Since becoming an adult my birthdays have been spent with a very special lady, and through her the days have gotten better and better. Our family birthdays have rarely included gifts. They usually include dinner out somewhere, sometimes just the two of us, other times with the kids. I do have a gift in the drawer of a dresser in the guest bedroom that I will cherish forever, and it didn’t come from a store. This gift is a phone recording and it’s on an answering machine that hasn’t been used in quiet some time.
The recording is of Mary Alice and Major. Major was barely old enough talk, and understanding him was pretty hard, but the message is loud and clear. When the machine picked up the two kids started sing Happy Birthday, and when the song was over they both said “Happy Birthday Grumpy” with Major straggling a few syllables behind Mary Alice before turning the word Grumpy into a four or five syllable mess. That my friend is special.
Today, I’ll get another call from those two, and this time I’ll hear Milla in the back ground saying something only another one year old can understand, and that call will be special. Miranda will call and try to get Ranger to say something on the phone, I may or may not hear a thing from him, but I’ll be able to see and hear him in my minds eye. Miranda will tell me she loves me, I’ll return the words, and I’ll feel warm inside. The phone will ring one more time. This call will be from Josh and he will more or less say the same thing Miranda said, and he will close with the same words of I love you dad. No that’s not exactly right. Here are the exact words that Miranda will say. “I love you Daddy.” Joshua will have a little different phrase, he will say, “Love you Dad.”
You want to know why those words are imbedded in my soul? Because they are the last words I hear from those two at the end of every phone call, or every time we part ways after being together. Monday, February 15, 2010 is my day. I won’t hear it proclaimed on a radio station, that wouldn’t be special enough anyway. I will hear it from a wonderful wife, and all of the children she has blessed me with. This is my day! Thank You God!
Till next time,
Grump