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JFR Notes - Donna
Donna tells some dad memories
Donna's Dad Story - July 1988
One of the things I remember most about Dad is his ability to make things. He could think of them, and then without plans, he would make it. I remember when he built the hay trailer. He spent long hours on it welding and fixing and when he was done-it worked!! As we used it, he would make comments about how to make it better. His mind was always working on things to build or change to make things easier or better. I think that secretly he was an inventor-he just didn't have the time or the money to pursue that.He liked to experiment with other things, too. One year he planted lentils. They didn't do very well, but he had an excitement about that field that was fun to watch.
I remember that Dad spent a great deal of his time and energy trying to find a table that we could all sit around and a car in which we could all ride. I don't think that he ever really found the "perfect" solution to either of these problems, but he spent a lot of time trying to find the "perfect solution."
One night when we lived in Michigan, he brought home a door. All the kids were excited about it until they found out that he was going to put legs on it and make it a table. There was something about the idea of eating off a door! Of course, the solution only lasted a few years.
There is also the memory of some of the old cars we had. I remember that Volkswagen van, the DeSoto, the Rambler, the Kaiser, and the Chevy. But, best of all, I remember Ol' Yeller. It was a panel truck that Dad painted yellow (like the line down the middle of the road), he put a bench on each side of the back and tried to haul all of us around in that. Although the idea was good, it didn't last very long. There weren't any windows or air conditioning or any of the finer things in life. Plus, the truck was very old. It ended up being a grain shed for the cows.
Most of all, I remember that Dad loved his family and wanted for them to gain testimonies of the gospel. He had fought for his testimony and he realized how important it is in life to do as the Lord expects. He found that living close to the gospel principles made him the happiest, and he wanted his children to enjoy those blessings. I also know that he was proud of each of us individually. He appreciated the different talents which we each have.
When I get upset with the things going on around me, when I feel that there is too much happening at once, or when life seems to be taking over my sanity, I think of Dad and how unworldly he was. He is still an example to me of how to live my life priorities.
Donna's Family Memories - July 1988
I remember that Dick was always trying to keep us "in our place" as the younger children. One night for dinner, Leslie had made some muffins. Dick began ridiculing them even before we sat down to dinner. Dad, wanting to demonstrate their edibility said, "Please pass me a muff."Well, Dick went wild with laughter. When he finally got a hold of himself he said, "you know what a muff is??--It's a mistake." And he rolled with laughter.
The rest of us, who had developed more consideration for others feelings during our shorter life times, sat quietly eating because we know what Leslie was going through.
Another time I remember was when Dad used to let us steer the car while he was driving. As Dick was the only one actually old enough to drive, this used to drive him wild. One day, coming home from church, I was sitting next to Dad and was honored to be allowed to steer. Dick's comment about my steering went like this-
"I see my life passing before me!!!
Where did you learn to drive-watching cartoons!!!
You'd better back up, I think you missed one of those bumps back there.
What is the last word you heard from your hands-Daaahhh?"
There was another time when Leslie, Chris, and I were ... Well, I think all of you know the rest of the story.
Donna Hill - November 1996
It was a warm summer day. Dad invited me to go with him out to his drilling rig. This was not the first thing I wanted to do, but I couldn't think of a good reason not to go. Plus, he acted like he just wanted some company and so I went. He moved around getting everything started. I was actually impressed with his knowledge and ability to work this equipment. I knew that it wasn't his chosen profession but he seemed to know what he was doing.The day was pretty boring. I began to understand why dad wanted company. There wasn't much to do but watch the rig go up and down. Dad would pull a sample of mud from the hole occasionally. He would talk about what he saw - the color of the mud, the clay content, how far down he had gone, what he thought the next layer of dirt would bring, etc. Being raised while dad was in the Marines, I never thought of him as knowing much about well drilling and was struck with his knowledge of the whole job.
Besides watching the rig, we also watched the sky to pass time. Dad talked about the clouds. He mentioned that the clouds on this particular day were Cumulus Nimbus. He said you could tell because they were so fluffy, white and billowy. He remarked, however, that they weren't dark enough to bring any rain.
For any of you who have been out with dad to his rig, you know how much mud there was always around. Dad kept a couple of 500 gallon drums of water around to use in his drilling. As we were sitting there, I noticed something moving in the mud. It was hard to tell what it was as it was all covered with mud. It turned out to be a lizard. Dad very 'matter-of-factly' picked it up by the tail, took it over to one of the 500 gallon drums of water and dipped the lizard up and down in the water. I asked him what he was doing, thinking that he would drown it. He explained that lizards breathe through their skin and that if he didn't wash it off, it would suffocate because of the mud. He continued to dip it until it was cleaned off. He then put it on top of one of the drums and watched it for awhile. After making sure that it was okay, he took it down from the drum and turned it loose.
I thought, "How in the world did he know that lizards breathe through their skin!!! How does he know about clouds and dirt!" I began to remember a lot of things that dad did and a lot of things he seemed to know about. Combining them all together, they seem an odd assortment of knowledge. I remembered that he was an upholster. He covered a sofa that we had in Michigan - I can't even remember how many times. He was a carpenter. He made things for the house and farm, but I remember the tables the most. As the family grew, he put legs on many things trying to find a table big enough for all of us to sit around. I remember when he bought a door and put legs on it. Then there is the table that Shelley keeps by her front door - but that is another story.
I remember his mechanical ability. He spent weeks once making a hay wagon that would automatically unload the hay so that we only had to handle the bales once. He envisioned this trailer, made a rough sketch of what he thought it should look like and put it together from a lot of junk around the yard. He welded, hammered, bolted, strung cable, attached unwind and take-up pulleys, put a transmission on it - and it worked. He did this all from a "picture" in his head.
He was a cook. He liked to experiment in the kitchen and enjoyed cooking when he had the time - which was not often. He made us stew and dumplings one time when we were out clearing the land at Mountain Home. It was actually good.
Throughout his life I was impressed and surprised with his knowledge of different things. And not just physical things, but things of the heart and soul. Often I remember him giving me advise - solicited and unsolicited - about being kind, forgiving and patient with others. I heard and felt his testimony of the gospel. And, I know that he knew that the Church is true.
To sum all this up: I think that dad had common sense.
Sometimes when I am tired, frustrated or generally depressed, I recall some of the things that dad has told me. I feel that he had an eternal perspective on life. And, as I recall his "words of wisdom" the often align my life again and bring me back to the straight an narrow path.
It is a blessing in all of our lives to have this example to follow. As we all struggle with the things of this life, I hope we will rely on common sense. If not our own - then dad's.