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Monday
Dec022024

If God hadn’t wanted us to eat animals...


My dad and his younger brother

My dad died December 22, 1996 at the ripe old age of 65. I think about him now and then when one of his old sayings somehow pops out of my mouth. I doubt many of these were original with him, but they are what I remember him saying:

  • If God hadn’t wanted us to eat animals He wouldn’t have made them out of meat.
  • God only gives you so many heartbeats. Why waste them exercising?
  • If you’re not ten minutes early, you’re late.
  • Don’t ride the clutch.
  • It all winds up in the same place anyway. (When the melted jello would mix with the mashed potatoes on his plate.)
  • Call me whatever name you want, just don’t call me late for supper.
  • Smells like money. (Whenever there was the smell of manure in the air.)

Anything your parents said that you now repeat?

See also Voices from the Past, Blue Skunk 6/4/09

 

 

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Reader Comments (7)

“Midnight on the ocean and not a steamship in sight”. My mother would say that as she pulled the curtains closed in the evenings. What the heck does that mean anyway?

December 2, 2024 | Unregistered CommenterJoy

Hi Joy,

I remember a little song that went something like this:

It was midnight on the ocean, not a streetcar was in sight.
While the sun was shining brightly, for it had rained all the night.
‘Twas a summer’s day in winter, and the rain was snowing fast,
As the barefoot boy with shoes on stood there sitting in the grass.

I think there were various versions of this. Who knows what your mom meant!

Doug

December 2, 2024 | Registered CommenterDoug Johnson

Mom used to say: if you clean it before it gets dirty, it is never dirty. And you fold a fitted sheet by wapsing it up neatly.

December 2, 2024 | Unregistered CommenterKathy Hakes

Kathy,

I don't get either of those! I do remember Aunt Ella Belle had a lot of patience with Neal and me!

Doug

December 3, 2024 | Registered CommenterDoug Johnson

If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all. (Lots of people need this one…)

December 3, 2024 | Unregistered CommenterAnnette

Annette,

Yup. I heard this one a time or two myself.

Doug

December 3, 2024 | Registered CommenterDoug Johnson

Yes, Doug, I think you’re right. It was streetcar, not steamship. That makes more sense.🙄.
Thank you.

December 3, 2024 | Unregistered CommenterJoy

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