Our Dallas correspondent and childhood friend (she grew up north of Maple Lake -- referenced in the post above) was published in the Dallas Morning News today. She writes:
I made the letters to the editor section of the Dallas Morning News. They wanted letters about dads. Mine was the only sweet one, all the others spoke sort of badly about their father/stepfathers.
My dad still lives in my mind
My dad is long gone, but never far from my mind. Dressed in his patched striped overalls and laced farmer's shoes, his spirit walks the fields he farmed for more than 50 years. He listens for the soft lowing of his cows on those sands of Hudson Township. He sees them coming out of the darkness and early morning mists at 5:30 a.m., with the birds crying their distinctive "kill dear, kill dear."
He knows every inch of this land from the days he farmed with horses. He can feel the remembered cold in his bones from the winters when chores had to be done regardless of the weather.
He remembers the hot summer days when the sweat dripped from his brow and his face and forearms had their distinctive farmer's tan. It was a real challenge making a living on this land. All that fades away as he eagerly cocks an ear to listen for the sounds of his family. He told his wife that the best crop he ever raised on those sands was his kids.
Lorlee Bartos, Dallas
