My Dad’s passing has made me sit and think about the legacy I want to leave behind.
My Dad did it right. I mean every body talks about what a great guy he was and how he made their lives better.
I know I want that, too, but how?
He loved country music and all of us kids do, too. But I can’t carry a tune in a bucket.
Thank God for the radio and being alone in the car singing and driving.
I love singing at the top of my lungs and driving even if I am practically breaking the glass with those off-key notes.
So, he passed that on to me but what will I pass on?
Well, it came time to start drafting my will and I had to make some decisions.
The house – easy – to the hub.
Cookbooks – again – easy – the Cooking Guild.
But then it got harder.
Renn Faire clothes – that one was gonna be hard as the Goodwill would not have the slightest idea what to do with them.
Camping gear – hmmmm – Boys Scouts?
And, then the hardest one – Rooby Dooby Doo!
You see, I have one of the world’s largest collections of Scooby Doo memorabilia. Comics, books, videos, dolls and hats compete with posters, ornaments and baseball caps. And then there are the signed photos from the original animators and the stars of the movies.
I ruvs my Scooby Doo!
I was pondering this when it was time to spend time with my youngest godson, Jamie, last week.
Jamie is a quiet, shy, young man who is in his first year of college. He spends a lot of time playing games and watching movies and we have always had a very special relationship.
So, last week, I took him out to dinner to give him a belated Christmas gift. We told stories and laughed and just enjoyed each other’s company until it came time to go home.
That is when he made an unusual request that became the first of two amazing gifts he gave me.
“Uncle Mike, Dad has been working on his will and it has made me start to think.”
“He is?”
“Yes, and it started me to think about you.”
“Oh?”
“Yes,” he smiled. “I know this sounds odd but when you get around to writing your will, could I ask a favor?”
“Okay…” I looked at him.
“Well, if Uncle Jim doesn’t want it, can I have your Scooby Doo collection?”
Talk about synchronicity!
“Really?!?”
He smiled.
“Oh, yeah! You know how I love Scooby Doo!”
Having sat through many an episode with him on a Saturday morning while babysitting, yes, I did know.
“Consider it done!”
We hugged on the way to the car.
It was about a fifteen-minute ride on the way back to his Dad’s place. That is when he gave me the second and even greater gift.
We were driving along when he popped on the radio. A song began and I recognized it and was going to start humming when the windows went down, and the volume hit 10!
“Blame it all on my roots
I showed up in boots
And ruined your black-tie affair” Jamie sang out!
I peeked over and his face lit up!
“Come on, Uncle Mike. Come on!”
And the chorus started!
“I got Friends in Low Place
Where the whiskey flows and the beer chases my blues away
And I’ll be okay”
“LOUDER!” he shouted.
“I’m not much for social graces
Think I’ll slip on down to the oasis.” I sang
And we both joined in!
‘Cause I got friends in low places!!!!”
And then I knew!
DAD! You’re legacy lives on!!!
Copyright 2022 M.J. Hobbs. The song lyrics are not mine. The other words are.
Tales From An Old Ford 