My father-in-law turned 75 today. That is amazing to me. This is a man whose life has many, many stories.

He grew up in a very small east Texas town. Picked cotton, and anything else for that matter since he was five years old. He tells us of when he was yOUng he could look up from the dirt floor he was sleeping on and see the moon and the stars through the boards on the roof above him. When it rained they wOUld huddle together in the one area that didn't have a leak.

My father-in-law grew up watching his father drink too much. He watched him beat his mother and siblings and was beaten himself. He promised himself he would never be like that. Fortunately, he also saw his father get saved, and saw the Lord change his father's life.

He had siblings that did not live long lives at all. I don't know details but there are at least two that died before they were 10. There was also a baby born still.

He said that most people that got sick and or hurt in his community of "black folk" died because they didn't have access to a hospital or a doctor any day of the week. There was a doctor that traveled and came through town once a month or so and stayed for a couple of days and saw all the black people that needed to be seen. He said that if there was an "emergency" you had to travel to the nearest town where that doctor sometimes was. But most of the time it wasn't even an option. He lived on the OUtskirts of a very segregated town.

He said that he ran for his life from white men more than twice. That's all he'd say about it. He said he has seen people he knew hanging from a noose in a tree or beaten and dead or left for dead.

One of many interesting things about my father-in-law is he is/was a very talented artist. He seriOUsly could have been a famous artist because of his talent. This knack for artistry has passed down to my husband and our children. McKenna would much rather draw and or paint than anything else and is quite good! McLaine and IJ are talented as well. My mother-in-law is proud of this. She is the one that talks of it and told me that Robert was so talented that if he had the means or had grown up in different circumstances there's no dOUbt he would have been an artist.

My father-in-law has a wonderful singing voice. In fact, Ira's father, mother his sisters, brother AND himself all have wonderful singing voices and have either sang or are currently singing in a choir for church. Ira's dad, used to travel in his yOUnger days with a group of other yOUng men and sing gospel songs at various churches. They were locally famOUs because of this. When Uncle Max comes to town from California (he is not really our uncle but is a very close and dear friend of Roberts and one of the singers in the group of long ago ~ he is also a pastor of a big church) he and Robert have us dOUbled over and laughing of stories from when they traveled and sang. They were in their late teens, early 20's. Believe me, there are some FUNNY stories.

Robert is really, really funny. He can TELL a story so well. He is a very good entertainer. Sundays after church the normal thing is to eat dinner together and then listen to Robert. When he is in the mood and feeling well, he suffers from allergies a lot now, he will have you rolling on the floor. He has excellent timing and just really able to tell it. And is sooooo funny.

Robert only finished school thrOUgh the fifth grade. He had to get a job, is what he told me. His family was too poor. He said that his mother was sad about him quitting school so he worked two jobs so his younger brother and sisters didn't have to quit school.

When Robert was in his 20's, he married LuLu. They had two children. But very sadly, LuLu died. I think it was from cancer. He and LuLu lived in Fort Worth at the time. The oldest child was three and the youngest was not yet two. Ira's mom, Coletta, was one of LuLu's nurses. MamaCo said that they knew each other, but didn't "know" each other. The black community here in Fort Worth was pretty small and it sOUnds like you pretty much knew everyone or at least knew who everyone was related to. I'm not sure how long LuLu and Robert were married, but I am told to this day that she was a very nice, sweet woman. LuLu's sister is still living and still goes to the same church as Robert and Coletta.

Robert and Coletta were married at Strangers' Rest Baptist Church by Reverend West. Ira and I were married at Strangers' Rest Baptist Church by Reverend West's son. Isn't that neat? MamaCo (Coletta) has told me that they (she and Robert) got married quickly after only dating a short while. He tells a funny story about MamaCo. That she used to go to clubs and smoke. When she and Robert started dating he told her that if she was going to be with him that she cOUldn't do that because he went to church. So she quit. He charismatically tells us that she quit everything just to be with him. She rolls her eyes when he tells this story. But has never denied it, ;o)

Robert always worked at least two jobs to help raise his family. In fact, at 75 he is still working. Ira says that he remembers his dad leaving for work in the early, early mornings and wOUld himself get up early to see his dad before he left. Ira grew up with both or at LEAST one of his parents at all his sporting activities, church activities and school stuff.

Ira's dad is and was a good dad. Ira says that Robert was always happy, and very rarely was angry or in a bad mood. He said that when they did get spankings growing up that they deserved them. But his dad always made them feel loved a great deal.

I love Robert. He is a very good father to both Ira and I. He has given me good advice, told me when I was wrong, told me he was proud of me and thanked me for his grandchildren. He has always been kind to me, my friends and my family. He said that when he met me, he knew that I was the one Ira was going to marry. He tells funny stories of when Ira and I were "running around" and says, "yep, I knowed that white girl wasn't goin' nowhere. I could tell the way she looked at "Herk" (Ira) that she was really in love with him." He tells of how he was worried for Ira and I, and worried just for Ira. But that when he "brOUght it to the Lord in prayer, he knowed everything was gonna be alright." And it is.

Happy Birthday Robert Jr. We love you.