My Dad the Politician

In those days in Kentucky, most were Democrats...I guess blue collar Dems as they are called now. My Dad was fully involved in local and state politics. He loved it! One time we went with his buddies to a coon roast in Fulton for a political rally. There was a lot of speeches and barbecued coon and other delecacies. I hated the coon! My dad told me I should take a set of the salt and pepper shakers from the hotel to my mom. This was a old hotel. So I slipped a set in my jacket and then he and one of his buddies told the porter that they saw me steal the shakers. They had a good laugh and I was scared to death.

He ran in 1948 to be State Rep from Paducah and the area and lost but I do remember driving around with him with a sign on the top of the car and asking people to vote for him. 1948 was a significant year for the nation and Kentucky. I recall sitting with my dad listening to the returns on the radio and when we knew he has lost, we went to bed. We also thought Dewey had won as President of the US. But sometime the next day, we learned that Truman and Barkley had won and of course, Barkley was from Paducah.

Going to School

I hated to ride the bus to school and also hated the fact I was in the late classes which meant starting school later and getting out later. The school bus was one owned privately and it had wood seats. O well. So, I would hitch a ride with my Dad as he went to open the store. He had a tan panelled Chevy truck, a 1950's model. He would leave the house about 7:30 am and swing through the circle at the Reidland Methodist Church and I would jump out. I usually had no idea as to how I would get home. I would drop in Hopkins Store and buy something..usually gum and then walk on over to Reidland High School. I got to school in time for the 8:15 classes which was my goal. I don't recall talking with my Dad much on the trip to school which is rather sad but he had lots on his mind running the store. He has these times where he was what I know now as depressed and times where he was laughing and hugging and having a good time.

My Father's Sweater

My dad, Vade Sr, wore sweaters, button up type. Janet bought me a button up sweater in the Winter Holidays in 2008. When I put this sweater on, I think of my Dad. But the difference is his sweater had smells...smells of his work...his store...the place he that had the motto of "Almost Everything". His sweaters and his turned up collars on his dress shirts were such a part of him. He usually wore a shirt with collars to work and he wore it for days! One reason he had the smell he did was because he didn't take a bath that often. He was a large guy as I said earlier and it wasn't easy for him to get in and out of the bathtub. A bath came once or twice a week, not a shower but a full bath in the tub where he would make a huge mess in the bathroom. Dirty underwear and water were all over the floor but mom cleaned it up without too much complaining. I could hear him in the tub for what seemed like hours but I am sure it wasn't that long...well, maybe an hour.