Looking Back

I grew up in a time when children were supposed to be seen, not heard. Sadly conversation between generations was certainly not the rule. Consequently I know very few details about their lives before I became a part of them. In broad strokes here's what I do know.

My dad, William Dudley Simpson, was born and raised on a 400 acre farm in Nicholasville, KY. He was educated in a one room school house, went his first two years of college to the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY and finished his last two years (I believe) at the University of Wisconsin, earning his degree in engineering. Upon graduation he was hired by the Buffalo Forge Co., and he worked for that company until he retired (unheard of in today's world). He moved to Buffalo, NY where he met my mother, Louise Kilgore Miller, who had been born and raised there. She went to college at Mount Holyoke and upon graduation became a librarian. They were married and a few years later my dad was transferred to the Buffalo Forge Pittsburgh office where he was second in command until his boss retired and he became the president. 

We never really took family vacations because my dad never took vacations. My sister, Alice Hughes Simpson (but  called Sally) and I spent our childhood summers on the farm in Kentucky accompanied by Mom until we were old enough for her to be able to return to Pittsburgh with my dad.  When I was eight Sally and I were sent off to camp (different camps, for only two weeks because my parents were afraid we would be homesick). I loved it so much I begged to be allowed to stay the whole 8 week session and did the same for the next 3 summers. That's where I had my first experience with horseback riding and developed my lifelong love of those glorious creatures!

Daddy was the ultimate provider for his family, working hard everyday to secure our future days, Mom was the heart of the home, bringing the warmth and comfort, and giving the true meaning to the title "home maker". One detail about my dad I didn't learn until revealed by his then partner at work who had become like a son to my dad. At the memorial service for Daddy he told how my dad had kept his aging secretary long after she was able to handle the workload because he knew she needed the job and had no family able to help her. So rather than replacing her, he secretly hired another woman to come in the evenings to do the work that hadn't been gotten to that day so that his secretary would never know and would feel needed and appreciated until she was able to retire herself. Upon her death he paid all her debts. I've heard my dad referred to as stoic, reserved, but what I remember is his generosity and integrity.

In summary, I'm recalling part of something I wrote to my parents included with a portrait of them I painted for their 50th wedding anniversary......

"Who teach, not by telling but by actually living

 the values of courtesy, caring, forgiving.

The most perfect examples of love I have known

all through my childhood, even more now I'm grown.