Memories Of My Dad

My dad died a few years ago, but I have great memories of him.
I can remember when we were young and my dad would come home from work, he would get a sandwich and then nap on the couch. We used to get his comb from his pocket and comb his hair while he was “sleeping” although I don’t know how anyone could sleep with us messing with his hair. And some of the things we would do to him!
When I was in first or second grade at school dad would walk to work and home. When he walked home he would walk right past my school about the same time that school let out and I would walk home with him. I was so proud to walk home with my dad!
He was a Cardinals fan and would have a game on the TV and another on the radio at the same time – while he was “sleeping” – and if anyone changed channels on TV or stations on the radio, he would wake up and ask why we did that, because he was listening to that. The thing is he could tell you the score on either game. Maybe he was just “resting his eyes” as we used to say.
I remember when we first got a TV set and he could pick up a station that played gospel music and singing and he would tune that in every Sunday morning and we could hear that as we got ready for church. It was a big black and white picture set that sat in the floor and had an antenna box on top with a rotor control that turned the antenna on the roof so we could get better reception. Kids now don’t hardly know what it is like not to have color flat-screen LCD or other screens on their TVs. I remember a film we used to put on the screen that was green on the bottom, red in the center, and blue on top; we thought we were watching color TV then. We have come a long way.
I remember going to his house after I was grown and married, and he would have egg gravy on the stove, or fried potato cakes. They were good warm or cold. He liked to cook and had a number of recipes he used, and often changed by putting his own personal touch on them. He loved to watch ‘The Cajun Cook’ Justin Wilson on TV and would adapt his recipes to be like the Cajun would cook. And he made Porcupine Meat Balls which were a favorite of Barbara’s son, Jimi. He liked to help grandpa make Porcupine Meat Balls, and that is one of his favorite memories.
Dad planted a small garden in his back yard and because he was limited in space for a garden, he planted some Dwarf Okra. Well that was the tallest okra I think I ever saw. It said ‘dwarf’ on the package, but grew so tall that you had to pull it down to you to cut the okra off. It was as tall, if not taller, than the roof line of the house. It sure was good though. Being from the south, we love our okra.
Dad had his flowers too; roses and iris and ‘naked ladies’ (my husband calls them ‘surprise lillies’ but dad always called them ‘naked ladies’ and that is what I call them. He had other flowers and bushes too, and every time you went to see him you had to walk around his yard with him so he could show you his flowers and his garden – even if you had been there the day before.
These are some of my favorite memories of my dad. He was a very special man and loved by many!
I miss you dad.

Daddy’s Porcupine Meatballs

1 can condensed tomato soup (10½ oz)
1 pound ground beef
¼ cup regular rice
1 slightly beaten egg
¼ cup finely chopped onion
Salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste
1 cup water
Small amount of cooking oil, if needed, to brown meatballs

Combine ¼ cup of the soup with beef, rice, egg, and seasonings.
Shape into about 16 meatballs.
Brown the meatballs in skillet, using oil if needed.
Combine remaining soup and water; pour over meatballs.
Cover and cook on medium to low heat about 40 to 45 minutes, until the rice is cooked. Stir often to keep from sticking. Best cooked in Teflon pan.

Cream of Mushroom soup and water or milk may be substituted for the tomato soup and water if desired.

Should serve about 4 people.