Betty Durham
1978, saturday night, 2 days before Christmas. My son and I had just driven 10 hours to get home to be with family for the holidays. I needed a few things from the grocery and to fill up with gas. I left the store and forgot to stop at the station. About 8 miles out my carburetor had sucked all the fumes and I pulled onto the dark side of a cold highway. I opened my gas tank and reached back to grab an empty 5 gal gas can. Put the can back and was blinded by headlights. Before my eyes could adjust I could hear and smell 5 gallons quenching a thirsty 327 and heard "get in and we'll prime it". He put the gas cap on, opened the hood and in about 60 seconds said "turn the key". Shut my hood said
he'd follow me to the station,"they're about to close."
We pulled up to the gas pump and before I could put it in neutral and set the brake he was filling it up, sprinted off to the owner to pay him and was headed back to his rig. I yelled "hey wait, let me pay you!" A big beaming smile, a wave, "tell Dave hello!" And he was gone.
My brother Dave and Doc were in 4-H together and like most people who were in the area, we were scattered around backroads and woods. Unless you were in same school, you kinda had to rely on church socials or 4-H fish fries to get to know a little about each other and our families. Doc and Dave had been active in 4-H and I believe they made the trip to Chicago together. Doc was always great with the little kids at the fish frys, respectful to the elderly and the girls and was eager to set up, teardown down and help clean up.
His smile was genuine and his kindness sincere. He set a standard of integrity that speaks highly of his family and self worth.
That was the last time I saw Doc. My son didn't speak for about 5 miles on the way home that night.. then he asked "momma , do you know that man?" I told him yes and how we knew the Davis family through uncle Dave's 4-H and buying some lumber from his daddy. My son got real quiet and finally said "momma, that man tonight was Santa, he just ain't tied his beard on yet cause it's too early." For the next 5 years there was no convincing him otherwise:)
In maybe 30 minutes, of my 65 years of life, a young man made a huge impact and a memory to carry for a lifetime.
1. It isn't the money in your pocket, it's the smile on your face
2. there ain't no problem you can't overcome with faith and a helping hand.
3. It don't matter who remembers you..God does!
4. Never underestimate the power of your child's imagination!
In 79' my folks sold and moved to big snow country, in "88 I followed and by the end of "88 Dave was settled here too.
Can't say okra or melon grows hardy here, but you can ride for days in the high country and see nothing but God's critters, beauty and the fishing is great Doc.
Till we meet again,
families and friends,
No diseases, no pain,
No anger, no loss,
We just let God be the boss!
Thank you to the Davis family for all ya'll have done to set good examples for others.
