Nine Decades

 Nine Decades

My Dad will turn 90 on the 17th of May,
He has been hoping to make it to 90, and has come a long way,
He grew up poor during the Great Depression when times were so hard,
Always working, not playing, except in the schoolyard,
Began helping his family on the tenant farm at a very young age,
Milking cows at dawn and dusk for a nominal wage,
Dropped out of high school in the ninth grade, thought he was smart enough,
But went back the next year after farming full time was too rough
Graduated high school with Miss Julia, who became his bride,
Sold a cow to marry her, and she stayed by his side,
Drafted into the Army, he was sent to war,
After 2 weeks on a ship, he arrived at the Korean shore,
Spent two Christmases there, where the cold was bitter,
Sat in a foxhole, and proved he was no quitter,
Back home, his wife had written him a letter each day,
Wondering and praying that he was okay,
Thank God he returned safely, but never the same,
Korea had impacted this farm boy, a man he became,
He then worked at Alcoa, and she worked at JFG,
A partnership homegrown in East Tennessee,
Together they started their very own business,
Promoting a new concept called “health & fitness”,
They successfully ran a health club and spa for 25 years,
Then worked for Court South their remaining careers,
My Dad could sell ice to an Eskimo, an excellent salesman he was,
While my mother multitasked at home and work, as a mother often does,
At a house on the lake, they finally retired,
But many people they have truly inspired,
Been married 70 years now, time has flown,
Had two lovely daughters, that are now grown,
Now with a 90-year Birthday approaching in May,
It is certainly a time to celebrate, Hip, Hip, Hooray!

Tammy Harvey written: 4/22/2022