A Man's Word

My dad was born in June of 1950 in Corpus Christi (Corpitos, as he likes to call it). He moved to Iowa with his family a few years later and was happy there. He went to school all the way through his sixth grade year. After that he had to quit school to help his family. He worked doin' lots of different things and even on the family farm.

One year he'd managed to save up enough money to buy a Chevy, unfortunately, his family didn't have enough money for the coal it would take to heat the home for the winter. (Yeah, Dad's a lil old school they had one big coal furnace to heat the home. Iowa winter's are no joke anyway, he always talked about how everything in the cities shut down and you really couldn't see much out of the first floor windows of his home.) So, my father wound up surrenderin' his money to survive the winter.

Wantin' to get the car anyway my father went and talked to the car dealer. He tells the salesman there that he doesn't have the money now but would in the spring when he was workin' again. The man shook my teenage father's hand and told him he had a deal. My father was proud and drove the car off the lot.

He turned the corner, proud of the deal he'd struck, and when he did he saw his father walkin' down the street. My grandfather had come and talked to the salesman and encouraged him to let his son have the car. My father was happy to know that he had a father that would do that for him.

A man's word is very important. I do my best to do what I say I'm gonna do. If a man can't be trusted to tell the truth or do what he says he's gonna do what good is he?


There are certain things that make up a real man in my opinion. He should be a pillar of strength to his friends and family. He must be reliable, courageous, honorable, and show respect for himself and others. (I could list a lot more but I don't think either of us have the patience for all of that.)

Part of being reliable means that you'd be honest and keep your promises. You say you're gonna pay for a car, you pay for it. You say you're gonna borrow sumthin' you bring it back as soon as possible and in the best condition you can. Somebody drops money in front of you you pick it up and give it to them.

You give your word and you keep it. You make the sacrifices so the weaker people or those you want to protect don't always have to. You put the ones you love before yourself as best you can. You make a deal and stick to it.

These things, I believe, would make any man a better man. It's what I believe, what my father believes, and my grandfather believed. A real man can do these thing. Real men have been doin' their best to do these things.

I feel like all of this is common sense and almost not worth my time or yours but more and more I see young men actin' like dumbasses with no respect for themselves or others and if their daddy's ain't teachin' 'em somebody ought to. I got lucky. I got one hell of a daddy. I love and respect him. He ain't perfect but without a doubt in my mind he's a good man and if you're daddy is an asshole or never around I'd hope that what my dad has taught me could help you or those men around you.