Day 4 of the 30 day challenge

My parents:

Where do I begin? I think I will start with my daddy. I am going to get the seriousness out there first. My father passed away 11/05/2001. So when I speak of him in the pass tense that is why. My father was a very religious man. We are a catholic family. Therefore, my parents did not believe in birth control. That's why there are 7 of us running around. With 7 children he had to keep some kind of control, so my daddy's solution was to develop "the look". Boy did he have "the look" down to a science, (I didn't like science very much therefore, I missed the look at times and met the thump). Who can take 7 children to church on Sunday morning and have each and every one of them sit perfectly still. My dad did. It was "the look". My dad could insight the biggest wrestling match of all time in about 1 second flat. All he had to do was lay down on the living room floor and the match ensued. Yes, someone always ended up crying. I thought he had the biggest, baddest, hardest muscles ever! I learned later he really was just a pipsqueak of a man. Don't tell him I said that. Really, I wouldn't want to hurt his feelings. But, I know he is up with the big Guy in the sky watching down on my every move!!! I love and miss him. OK, to continue on. After my father's passing I did write a little paragraph that sums up my father.

What my father means to me: Well, what can I say, "the greatest man I ever knew"! A man with a quiet graciousness that is unsurpassed. To me he meant strength, knowledge, a leader, a giver, a man of his word and honorable. He taught me how to love and what love is. He NEVER turned his back on a new challenge. Whether it involved his family, church, work or charity. He saw each challenge to its fullest. I am proud to say Robert A. Schultz is my father.

My father was a funny guy too. He was always ready for a good time and quite often he was the good time. I think that is where my funny side comes from. I will say that my dad did live his life to the fullest.

Now for the "Matriarch" of the family. As I have said in previous posts my momma was a baby making machine. That brings us back to the catholic thingy, and the church thingy, and the thump thingy. Really, what woman do you know who can dress 7 children, do 5 girls' hair in perfect little ringlets and get them into a perfect little row in the perfect little pew for 10:00 mass? My momma could. She could whip up 7 little outfits on her little Singer sewing machine, ( all out of the same material in some way) in a day or two. BTW, (reminder: that means by the way), she still uses that little Singer sewing machine today!!! My momma was known fondly by my friends as "Sarg". They were absolutely terrified of her. That is a little secret though. We wouldn't want her to know she really put the fear of God into nice, adorable, sweet and totally innocent girls, (young and old). My momma is verrrrrry talented in many ways. She is an awesome cook, organizer, designer, artist, caregiver, nester and the list goes on. Oh, do you want me to go back and explain the nester part....some people don't want to leave her nest....ever!!!! I love my momma!!!

Both of my parents loved, loved, the "Pumpkin Show" the Greatest Free Show on Earth. But, who doesn't. My mother is still very involved with the parade committee.

I hope, if you know either of my parents, you have a totally new insight of them.

ML Brown (that's me)