While yesterday’s write up was in honor of my grandmother’s birthday tonight’s is in honor of my father. Harry Edward Rhodes was born on October 20, 1948. He would have been 76 this year but sadly he passed before he turned 23. As mentioned before, it was also 6 weeks before I was born, so I have zero actual memories of him. I have stories that I have heard many times over the years but none of my own.
One of the stories I remember is from my Aunt Tracey, one of my mom’s younger sisters who was barely a teen herself when my mom introduced her to my dad. Tracey always thought he was very handsome and liked to tell me she always thought he looked like Bob Seger. So obviously whenever I hear his songs, I think of my father and what my Aunt Tracey always liked to tell me.
Another important thing is the fact that I look just like my dad, or so that is what I have been told my entire life. When I was little and would go visit my Mamma in Ohio for the summer it was a weekly experience to be in her car running the errands and she would stop to chat with someone. Inevitably I would hear my name and would turn to face my Mamma only to hear whoever she was talking to say something to the effect of...
"She looks just like Harry Edward; no doubt who her dad is; oh, she’s a Rhodes for sure!"
All of these things pleased my Mamma and I to no end and neither one of us ever tired of hearing it...
Larry’s Perspective:
This song lived with me at Lbrands for quite a long time. Not only did I get married and have children at such a young age, but I had to very quickly mature in my career as well. I tried my best, made some mistakes in the beginning but ultimately grew into a "leader" and not a "boss". When you have a 29 year runway, one would hope you'd learn at least a little something along the way.
These are the lyrics that were my companion:
"Well those drifters days are past me now - I've got so much more to think about - Deadlines and commitments - What to leave in, what to leave out..."
I wasn't necessarily a drifter, but I also wasn't able to live the typical lifestyle of an early twenties "adult". Work always had the deadlines and getting married and being a dad pretty much sums up the commitment part. I am very much enjoying all of this now being in my mid 50's - and my sons being 29 and 30. But it wasn't easy then.
Bob Seger is a great American song writer, no doubt, however cliche you may think some of his lyrics are...because he probably wrote them first and everything after is the cliche.
As far as Shannon's notes...I will only say this. In all my life and all the people I've met, I've never met anyone else whose father was killed before they were born and never had the chance to meet him. Shannon has always had the label "Handle With Care" on her...and that's what I've done my best to do...
Ghost of a Chance 