The man who made me who I am today.
(Scott & John Evans)
Wow! Who new this would be so hard? To write about…things. On a weekly basis. How many times do we say “I could write a book!” Until we commit to the task of actually “writing”. Well this week while hanging out at home and relaxing, Kristina finally closed the cover on the laptop and said “I gotta put this away”. “I got nothing.” We’d kicked a couple of ideas around but nothing sounded interesting. About the time she shut the lid, she said “you need to write about your dad and all the things he’s done for us over the last 3 years.” Well, the laptop was dead at that point so I picked up my phone and immediately started typing. Then, at about this point, was I started thinking to myself “where do I start?”
In honor of Father’s Day…this is for you, Dad!
My father has been one of the greatest influences in my life. I’ve always thought he’d been a great politician…without the lies. I’ve never known anyone that thought so much more about others then himself. I can remember as a teen my father telling me “always do more for someone then they can do in return for you.” What I learned and observed from that saying was that when someone goes the extra mile for you, you then return that favor twofold. I think anyone that has ever crossed paths with my father can attest to his kindness and generosity.
My father grew up very modestly in Owensboro. He met my mother and were married almost immediately upon his graduation (my mother is 11 months older). So at 18, he was married. He enlisted in the Army and served out his term, then began work in the Finance company business. They lived in several cities within the boundary of our state of KY but settled in Owensboro with 3 kids and a mortgage and working for a small bank. He eventually moved on to another bank in town where he worked in the marketing department. To this day, I’ll never forget a commercial he made for the bank and was featured on a local television station out of Evansville. The jingle he’d play on the cassette recorder…?We’re with you…all the waaaaaay, through the good times and the not so good times too. Through the fat times and the lean, we’re the best thing you’ve ever seen, cuz we’re with yooooooou, all the way! ? Owensboro National Bank…we’re with you all the way! I burst out in the dinning room one night a few weeks ago after we’d closed, with all the wait staff just starring at me and when I was done, they all burst out laughing at me. Memories!
In 1976, dad and mom moved my 2 sisters and myself to Princeton. He worked in Banking until he retired about 10 years ago. Dad says the only thing about the “golden years” is your pee. He’s always had a fascination with woodworking. Since he’s retired, he’s spent many hours down in the basement in his wood shop. He’s gotten so good with it that it’s almost become a job. Between Kristina and myself, my sisters Kim and Sherry, and their kids, we always seem to have a “project ” for dad.
The first project I recall we put him on was a “bar”. The first year I began working at the restaurant, Kristina began the “Soup Bar “. It was a pretty simple way to get through the winter by using our food overages, and…who doesn’t like soup in the cold winter months. After the “soup season” was over, Kristina said “now I need a bar to put my soup on.” So over the next couple of months, my father took some old Cherry wood that came from a tree that her father David and his dad had cut down about 15 years before and had been stored in an old tobacco barn. He crafted 2 beautiful “bars”, six feet long by 30 inches wide out of this gorgeous wood. Then before giving it to us, he went and had made 2 brass plaques that said “To Scott and Kristina , from Dad. 2015????? Those bars sit on our front porch at the restaurant to this day and will always be there.
Our next project for dad was an old table that set out in our garage. One summer day while standing out in the garage, Kristina began looking at this table that had the weed eater, gas cans, paint cans and all sorts of other things you’d store in your garage setting on top. The table was only about knee high, but was about 6 feet long and 2 and a half feet wide. We started taking things off the table to get a closer look. We turned it upside down. The reason it was only knee high was the legs had rotted from sitting on the dirt floor for so many years. Upon further inspection I noticed the lines running through the wood and said “that table’s made out of oak!” So we loaded it up and took it to my dad. Well, underneath all the paint, gas and oil stains was a very beautiful table. Dad purchased some pre made legs, attached them to the table and stained them to match. It’s made a beautiful dining table with plans for it to be in the Mercantile for a display table.
The projects he’s helped us with has become blurry, there’s been so many. He helped us build a platform out of old wood from Battle Creek for one of the barns. He helped me in case the old wrought iron with poplar around the porches at the farm and he even built the little wall on the inside of the front door to the right as you walk in the front door to the restaurant. He’s made about 10 of the tables that currently reside in the restaurant. He helped me build a brand new office on the side of the restaurant under the porch. We recently asked him if he could build a Corbel. If you don’t know what that is, picture an old house and the beautiful woodwork on the outside between the wall and the roof. There’s some gorgeous old ones out there and he made 4 of them that look like they’re 100 years old.
His next project might be his largest as we inch closer to the opening of the Mercantile. I’ve told him to not make any other “project ” plans for the month of July as Kristina figures out exactly how she wants this shop to look. I’m sure his prints will be all over it.
My father has never been one to butt his nose in to my business or anyone else’s for that matter. But he’s always given me sound advice when asked. His opinion has always been important and always will be. His given me all the tools I need to be successful. I don’t know how anyone could have a better father then I have. I am who I am today, in a very large part, because of him. He helped teach me how to love and care. He taught me how to be responsible, respectful and thankful. For that, John M. Evans Jr…I am eternally great-full.