No Angel
This was an incident in my life that proved to my mother, father and two sisters still living at home that I was no Angel. This was not really the question at all but where did I become under the influence of the Devil?
It was most likely in the winter of 1946, when I was only two to three years old. I had been talking for a few months, but my vocabulary was not very developed yet. I actually do not remember this incident, but was told about it numerous times while growing up. One thing known for sure was that it was cold outside because I was trying to put on my winter coat and in a moment of frustration, trying to zip my coat up and after numerous tries, I uttered the words, “G** Dammit.”
The family was all standing in the kitchen where we were getting ready to go outside and were putting on our coats when this unforgivable outburst happened. Faces all went blank, mouths dropped open and a gasp came from my mother. “Oh my!” The angel had just lost his Halo.
How could this be? Where would I have been exposed to such vile language? We did have a radio but, in those days, they didn’t even use the word dang. This was prior to me ever having friends over to play. I had been to Sunday School but it couldn’t have come from there and they all knew that it wasn’t from Mama.
Had I been being questioned, I would have blamed the dogs or possibly one of the hogs, since the only suspects were still standing in the room.
Not a word came from Daddy or one of the sisters as they all stood there with mouths open. As the years went by, never did a confession come forward. This is one unthinkable crime that has not been solved to this date.
If I just hadn’t been so determined to zip up my coat myself this would never have happened. It was all because I was trying to be an over achiever. Think about how my life might have been so much different had I not been exposed to those words. I am sure it was inevitable the time would have come and it did. Because of my desire to become a cowboy, I got older and learned that the language of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans was not common on those long cattle drives up the Chisum Trail to Abilene. I guess that is why you never see a Halo above any cowboy hats.
Growing up took a lot of hard work and in many times this learning came from trial and error plus the imitation of what you see and hear from other people around you. It would have been very helpful if there had been some warning labels placed around here and there.
Example: CAUTION: Words and gestures heard or seen may be found offensive, be especially careful around other individuals about your age.
It has been known there are times these individuals will try to use words and phrases that they do not have a grasp or even understanding of and simply are trying to impress other people or their peers of their expanded vocabulary. THIS MAYBE DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTH.
This is an excerpt from the Memoir being written by Robert Phillips, titled Virgil 1951. Should you have any questions please contact at robertwphillips1944@ gmail.com or call 785-393-2092.
