Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Being the Heroes of Our Own Stories by Patricia Forsythe


            With Father’s Day coming up, I’m thinking about my dad, Raymond Forsythe, just as I was thinking about my mom last month before Mother’s Day.  He was born in rural Oklahoma in 1918, lost his father to the lingering effects of influenza a few years later, and grew up during the Depression.  Times were hard but, for him, they became even harder when his mother remarried, to a man who had very little interest in work of any kind, except that of running an illegal still, and whose only asset was his looks – there are some in the family who would argue whether he even had that attribute. 
            Although I don’t know much about what transpired to make my dad leave Oklahoma, I know that by the early 1930’s, he came to Arizona where his two older sisters lived with their husbands and he made the acquaintance of his newest brother-in-law, Harlon Green.  To the end of his life, my dad described Harlon as ‘the first good man I was ever around’.  Ironically, Harlon had also been raised by a worthless stepfather who drank, gambled, and couldn’t hold a job, but Harlon had decided at an early age that he wasn’t going to be like that.  He was going to be a good man and my dad followed his example.  They both succeeded.
 
            My dad was never without steady employment, and probably because he wasn’t well-educated, education was important to him.  Years before he met my mother, he bought a piece of land which he planned to sell when his kids were ready for college, and that’s exactly what he did.  He treated people well, was friendly, and a big tease.  He was quick and witty and made friends easily.
            So here is what I think.  I think people choose their path in life, that the old cliché is true - ‘What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger’ but either way, it’s our choice.  People who choose to follow a good path are heroes of their own stories, and those who don’t are their own villains.  As a writer, I like to create characters who overcome obstacles and make their own decisions for the best because doing so makes them heroes – like my dad and my uncle.

Patricia Forsythe is the author of many romance novels, both print and ebooks and is always working on more.  Most of them take place in the quirky little town of Lucky Break, Arizona.  You can visit her at patriciaforsythebooks.com.

8 comments:

  1. What a great story about your father. I, too, believe that what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. Happy Father's Day!

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  2. I agree, we make a lot of our own happiness and drama. Great article!

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  3. Thanks, Mel and Aileen. I know my dad wasn't perfect, but he was hardworking, honest, and a lot of fun.

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  4. Yes, Uncle Raymond was well known for his teasing, which is one reason we all loved him.

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  5. Such a beautiful post and so true ... Thanks for the reminder, Patricia, that we can all be the hero of our own life!

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  6. Thanks, Donna. It's nice to know my cousins, at least some of them read my posts and, especially, that they have fond memories of my dad. And, Milou, I guess we all just need to be reminded sometimes that our lives depend on our attitudes.

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  7. I like this story a lot. Reminds me of my late father, not perfect but hardworking and honest.

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  8. He sounds like a strong, worthy man. Real hero material!

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