Groundhog day

 When I was in 2 nd grade my Daddy had a nervous break down. He had to go to the hospital for several weeks. I’m not sure the day he went to the hospital but it was a school day. I remember coming home from school and Daddy was sitting on the floor leaning against a living room chair that had the cushion out of the chair and against his back. He was sobbing and spitting up flem into the dish pan we used for an ash can for the wood stove. 

Clayton drove a school bus which was a van and he had to drop us off and take our cousins home just down the road and then come back to the house. When he walked in he found this household in a mess. We all relied on daddy. Mamma was so worried and upset. I’m sure all of us kids were just huddled together we were so afraid. Clayton said he was going to get Patsy cause she lived close but Daddy insisted he had to get Richard because he needed to go to a hospital. 

Clayton did as he was told but stopped to tell Patsy on the way. She came immediately. Then Richard got there and took Daddy to the VA hospital. I’m not sure who went with them . I know Clayton stayed at home with us. It seems odd I can’t remember if mamma stayed or left. Daddy was our rock.

There’s a few things I remember while daddy was in the hospital. None of them were pleasant. But I remember what a wonderful day it was when he came home.

He came home on Groundhog Day. I remember we walked down to the new barn and back to the house. During the walk he talked about the groundhog story. Which that was all it was to Daddy he was never superstitious. So I do not remember if the sun was out for the groundhog to see his shadow or not. But there sure was sunshine in my heart that day because my Daddy was home again and all was right with the world.