By way of greeting me
- “Hey Girl-baby!”
- “How’s my Aileenie?”
About work and school
- “I don’t care one bit whether you make straight A’s. But don’t let me hear tell of you not doing your best.”
- “Do what shows first.” (Meaning, “When you are overwhelmed, get the big stuff out of the way and don’t get sidetracked by minutia.”)
- “A big part of your job is making your boss look good.” (Meaning—among other things—“Never badmouth your boss, even to co-workers.”)
- “If you get so smart you think you’re better than somebody else, it’s time for you to go back to school.” (Daddy has his Doctorate of Ministry.)
Because he’s Daddy
- To wake up teenagers: “Rise and Shine and Give God the Glory, Glory!” (Only he sings it. L O U D L Y. While turning on all lights and opening all blinds.)
- When he’s surprised: “I’ll be John Brown!”
- When frustrated with himself: “I swanee!” (Pronounced like the river and perhaps a permissible substitute for “I swear,” that he and his brothers could slip past their mother without having to suck on a bar of soap.)
- What no one should act like: “North end of a Southbound mule . . . “
- When it rained and the sun was out: “I reckon the devil’s beating his wife.”
- When he’s ready to go: “If you’re waiting on me, you’re backing up.”
- On his way out: “Kids, I’m gonna do for you what the devil won’t.” (Meaning, “Leave you.”)
- When befuddled: “I ain’t got no more idea than a billy goat what that thing is.”
- When a bug hits the windshield: “Whoa. He won’t do that again.”
- Every Sunday after preaching: “Kids, I looked all over that whole church this morning and I didn’t see a single woman as pretty as your mama.”
- On decision making and life in general: “Everything of value requires some sacrifice.”
What are some things your dad says or said?
