by Lucinda Secrest McDowell
Whenever I think of my Daddy ~ PRATT SECREST ~
I think
of music 
,
laughter 
,
poetry 
,
cameras
,
laughter ,
singing 
,
funny
postcards 
,
laughter ,
travel,
public
speaking 
tape recorders 
and laughter !
None of those were his "job" (he was a successful businessman
in real estate and timber). But he knows that life is more than your
"job
description" 
and the things that made him who he was
when he
was younger 
,
are still there now at retirement
.
For his 75th birthday I published a book of his poetry from
the years 1943-1998. Below are a few selections from that
book, For Better...Or Verse by Pratt Secrest.
"ON
MINUTES"
Make the
most of every minute
!
Put every hope and effort in it!
And when it’s gone, don’t stop and stare...
Another
minute’s
waiting there!
God gives us all the same amount
Of
minutes
in each day to count.
Will we be proud, when life is done,
Of how we
used each priceless one?
~ copyright 1968 Pratt Secrest
and to his fiance, my mother, to whom he has been married 59 years
"To
Sarah"
If I had a
trillion
I would buy you all of France!
And I’d
give you a million
If I only had the chance!
Had I a
thousand bucks
I’d buy a set of diamond rings,
And even
with a hundred
I could buy you lots of things!
If I had
just a dollar
I could get you something green...
And I’d
only need two bits
To buy a brand new magazine!
And here’s one thing for sure my dear,
I really love you true!
If I only
had a nickel
I would spend it all on you!
~ copyright 1949 Pratt Secrest
At age 16 I woke up to this note at breakfast....
An April
Message 
To
My Sweet Girls
I’ve sold the cars and bought a horse
Without a twinge of sad remorse,
Scattered weed seeds in the garden
For which I beg nobody’s pardon,
Tied the kitties’ tails together
And tickled their whiskers with a feather
Let all the air from Robespierre’s tires,
Put gum in all your rollers and dryers;
The mailbox has a mousetrap there
To catch the postman unaware;
Gave Brookside to a passing tramp
To turn into a hobo camp,
Bought my fare to Haight-Ashbury
To join with Peter, Paul and Mary,
Sawed down the treehouse...ain’t that mean!
And poured dye in the washing machine!
Put garbage in the neighbors’ yards
And canceled all our credit cards!
Aren’t you proud your Pop can spread such cheer!
And that APRIL FOOLS comes just once a year!
~copyright
1969 Pratt Secrest
But this letter received when I was 11 and away at camp gives a glimpse not
only of his humor, but also his encouragement to be friendly and to WRITE!
"To Cindy
At Summer Camp" 
Gosh, but we miss you around this place!
(Oh please don’t forget about washing your face!)
On the door of your room we have hung up a wreath
(And always remember you must brush your teeth!)
We haven’t seen Velvet or gone to the stable,
(Do use your best manners when you’re at the table)
Rusty and Frisky are barking at cars,
(Have you slept on the ground yet, out under the stars?)
Susan is playing with friends in the yard,
(Is your cabin OK? Is your bunk soft or hard?)
Cathy is busy with typing at school,
(Be sure to obey every single camp rule)
Mother is sewing and raising tomatoes,
(Each day do they feed you three kinds of potatoes?)
I’m hammy as ever with your sisters & Ma
(Do your friends know you’re just as much ham as your Pa?)
We’re lonesome for you and your grin and your curls!
(Be friendly and nice to each one of the girls!)
Well, have a good time and don’t let the bugs bite!
(And
Cindy, Oh, Cindy, REMEMBER TO WRITE!
)
~
copyright 1964 Pratt Secrest
On
Father's Day I am not only thankful for my
delightful father and also for the dedicated father of my own 4 children,
but I am also eternally grateful for my heavenly Father God, the Creator
of the Universe, who decided to call me His child and who says I can
refer to him as "Daddy" (actually "Abba" in the Aramaic, a most intimate usage)
So...whether or not you have an earthly father to honor today, you most
certainly have a heavenly One! God loves you and your children and He
will be the Father and Provider that you need. Don't act like an orphan.
copyright
2001 Lucinda Secrest McDowell
Daddy's
80th 
(2004)
