Father's Day this year- June 21, 2009
DID YOU KNOW: In the USA, UK and Canada, Father's Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in June, since being made a national holiday in 1966.
This month's blog is dedicated to my father
Dr. James H. Neely
who was a practicing physician in the Tupelo/Lee County area for almost 35 yrs and still remains the best "daddy" ever.
COUNTRY DOCTOR
My Dad was a country doctor,
And I have such memories galore;
I even remember the house calls,
As he literally traveled 'round door to door.
Sometimes, on Saturday mornings,
When I was just a young thing;
My daddy would let me go with him,
As he did all his doctoring.
He'd have his black bag in one hand,
And his stethescope wrapped 'round his neck;
He was most definitely the captain,
And I was his first man on deck.
We traveled way deep in the country,
And there were always such sites to see;
Believe you me, I noticed them all,
Down to the last bumblebee.
I'd always meet really kind people,
As I stayed by my daddy's side;
He'd always give my introduction,
As he stood there beaming with pride.
Many of the people had no indoor plumbing,
And most of them were all very poor;
So my daddy would let patient's pay him,
With whatever it was they'd procure.
Sometimes, he took brown eggs or slab bacon,
Fresh vegetables, hams and the like;
All of this was so amazing to see,
For me as such a young tike.
The old women, he'd always call "young lady",
But old and young all addressed him as sir;
We'd make so many stops on our journey,
I'm quite suprised that it's not all a blur.
I remember learning about all these people,
And all of the crops that they grew.
Each time, I'd learn something different,
Each time, I'd learn something quite new.
My eyes would grow wide with excitement,
As I saw all the animals and stock;
We'd see so much beautiful scenery,
As we'd drive to the next door to knock.
My dad had such a busy schedule,
I can't imagine how he got it all done;
All I remember is I loved tagging along,
And all I remember is fun.
Copyright 2008 Patricia Neely-Dorsey
poem from Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia-A Life in Poems
www.patricianeelydorsey.webs.com
author's note: Dr. James H. Neely received his Bachelor's degree in 1955 from Kentucky State University, formerly Kentucky State College with a major in chemistry and a minor in math and French.
He received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Meharry Medical College in 1960.