2025-06-15 “Father’s Day Thoughts” by Emma (born 1861)

First off, if you think this dress looks like it come from a thrift shop, that’s pro’lly on account that it did. Hannah says it’s cute, but admits it looks a li’le old fashioned.

Well, what that I was born in 1861, it looks fancy to me! An’ it feels real good, too.

Speaking o’ being born. Most o’ you know I got memories of four versions of me, so even though I was born in 1861, I also got memories of being born in 1965 twice an’ once in 2005, too.

Now, as it’s Father’s day, I wanted to say a few things.

I know not all of us had fathers much worth celebrating. I know some folk get sad on Father’s Day, an’ I suppose it’s on account of what they didn’t have when e’rybody else is celebrating what they had.

Well, all the versions of me were born poor as could be outside o’ Vicksburg, MS. My natural daddy from 1861 worked on a plantation ‘til emancipation, then took on as a sharecropper. The other 3 were ‘bout the same, but called tenant farmers.

They were different, naturally, given how time changed, but all I can say is they shared one idea: get Emma married off and hope she does better.

As for 1800s me, I didn’t know much affection or closeness. Daddy was doing all he could to keep food on the table, an’ didn’t seem to care about much more.

Well, now, I’m living in 2025, and the memories of that daddy are a little softer. He wanted to make a happy home, but life was hard. 

Took me ‘til ‘bout now for me to see he was trying. Didn’t change the feeling of being looked past, but him wanting to marry me off or get me out of the house to a good job was, he figured, for my own good.

I guess I mean to say, none of the versions of my daddy meant to harm me.

Now, I’m not saying all daddy’s in the world are that way. But mine was. 

So, I’m gonna call my 2025 daddy and tell him I hope he’s having a good day. And I really hope he is.