With Father’s Day approaching, I have been thinking a lot about Dad. I have lots of wonderful memories, but one that stands out in my mind is that of the tea towel. Let me try and explain.

Dad was a farmer. He did other work away from home too, but that work was done because of a need for money, not for love of the task. The farming is what I believe he loved. When Dad was home and out in the field, mom was taking care of us kids and the house. She was also cooking; and we had dinner every day at noon. To this day, in my heart there are three meals a day- breakfast, dinner and supper. (That can get confusing when you’re with city folks!) Anyhow, when mom had dinner about ready she would go to the back door and wave a tea towel. This was a signal telling dad to come in and eat. When he noticed the towel, he would show some sign of recognition and here he would come.

In this day of faxes, cell phones, pagers, and e-mail, the tea towel seems like a primitive form of communication. It also seems very unrealistic in the world in which we live. But wouldn’t it be nice if when wives needed their husbands or kids needed their dads, he would be as close as the wave of a tea towel?

©1998 G. Waggoner


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