I would like to present some thoughts about my brother Reed to honor his birthday today.
So many people remember Reed for his sense of humor. And we all know it was wonderful indeed. He had a dry humor (something like Linda inherited, I think). But whenever most of my brothers and sisters talk about Reed, they remember that he was always a serious, hard worker. I think it must have been true all his life, as soon as he was able to do any kind of tasks about the farm. Donald says Dad counted on Reed to be the most responsible of the bunch after Ernest and Frank went into the service. For example, some time in the winter months when the school bus didn’t run, the boys would (happily) come back home, and if they were lucky, they would get to go hunting. When they started for the woods to hunt, Dad always let Reed be the one who got to carry the gun.
Eddie Salyers, a long ago neighbor that I mentioned in the story about Cleo, also liked Reed. Donald said that he can remember working down in the Ellen Bottom with Reed and Eddie and probably Cleo and Ronald. What he remembers best was their going to a spring that used to run from the side of the hill somewhat close to Tom Godbey‘s place . Donald said you had to lie down on your stomach in order to get a drink. ( By the way, he says he has looked many times for that particular spring since then, but he believes it has gone dry, for he hasn’t been able to find it.)
I remember Hazel commenting that Reed was always a good kid. What Alline will mention even today if you ask is that Reed was very good at handling the work horses because he was steady and calm. Donald agrees. “Reed understood farming,” Donald says, “and he was good at it.” Alline recalls Reed would say every night after a hard day’s work, “What are we going to do tomorrow, Dad?”
David said he recalls one day when Reed was plowing the field over near the old persimmon tree. Reed was working with the horses, Jim and Bird, of course. On this day while he was walking behind the plow, the plow hit a root and jumped back hard against his chest. That blow broke some of Reed’s ribs. Of course, he had to stop his work. David was there when this happened and he went with Reed to the house to tell Dad. Dad said, “Well, let David plow then. ” But Reed said, “No, Dad, he can’t handle that plow”. David remembers that the plow was taller than he was at that time, and he still says today that he is very grateful that Reed tried to protect him from a job he could never have done. Reed had to go to the doctor, of course, and his chest had to be bound up, but I don‘t believe he ever had to plow with the horses again. It was this incident , David believes, that convinced Dad that he needed to buy a tractor. And he did.
Apparently Reed’s good work habits when he was young paid off when he got to be an adult. Deva talks about how proud she is of his record at General Electric. He not only worked hard, but he continued to get more training and more promotions. Reed enjoyed continuing to learn. Deva said that one time Reed figured out some problem that had stumped everybody else, and he got an official letter of recognition for his solution. He was still taking more training even when he was ready to retire. One fact that most people do not know was that Reed was good friends with a Japanese American, Su Moto, at work. Even after Reed retired from G. E., Su Moto would still write letters to him. Reed enjoyed their friendship very much.
I have mentioned before in the story I wrote about Deva that she loves to go for rides around Casey County. Those rides around the countryside started a long time ago. After she and Reed moved back to Short Town Road, they would take their little journeys after supper in the evenings. They liked to go over toward Clementsville or some other part of the county that they had not seen before. It was restful and fun for the two of them. I love to imagine them sharing their ride after supper, looking and talking, and quietly exploring new places together.
Anyone who knew Reed would be quick to say he was a strong person. I think one of his most unusual characteristics was a habit he acquired near the end of his life. Often he would say to friends, as well as to his family, “I love you.” It must have taken many people by surprise at first. How astute it was of Reed to say these words that would stop people in their busyness. It was, and still is, very unusual to be so direct with such a message, even though it is the very message that the whole world longs to hear. It is even more surprising, if you consider that many men, especially during Reed’s life time, were expected to hide their feelings. But Reed knew better. His conviction of what really mattered was a reflection of all his strengths. That little phrase was perhaps the last words many people heard from him. What a wonderful way to take people by surprise. What a wonderful way to bid goodbye.