Even though Si appears to be someone who could never
run out of anecdotal stories – regardless of how exaggerated they might be...
"I was in the military, so I told my wife that
I was never there for the kids when they were growing up. And she said, 'oh
yeah you were. Let me go get a photo album.' And she was showing me dressed as
a bunny rabbit, rooster, and Santa Claus during Christmas time. Personally, I
didn't feel that I was there enough," Si commented.
In his book, Si shares a spattering of stories about
his childhood – skipping school to go fishing with his older brothers – and how
he managed to earn A's at Louisiana Tech after he skipped most of his classes
during an entire semester.
Si's mastery of storytelling runs throughout his
descriptions of the Vietnam War and how he met his wife, Christine. The
always-jovial Uncle Si also speaks candidly about the difficulties he and
Christine have faced, and how God has blessed and sustained them throughout
their 43 years of marriage.
He also shares their unexpected blessing of having
two children, Trasa and Scott, and eight grandchildren.
"I was at an event in Arkansas, and a woman
walked up and was standing there, and I was waiting for her to hand me
something to sign – a T-shirt, a hat or whatever. And she said, 'well, I'm
ready.' And I looked up and I said, ready for what? 'Ready to marry you. I
drove 450 miles here just to marry you.' I told her we've got a slight problem
here, lady.
And she said, 'what's that?' I'm already married and my wife
probably wouldn't like me marrying you. 'You mean I drove 450 miles for
nothing?' I said, no. Isn't that a T-shirt you've got hanging over your
shoulder. 'Yeah.' Well, I'll sign it for you darlin' that's the best I can do
for you," he said.
According to Si, marriage is a union between two
imperfect people who are destined to make mistakes. But at the end of the day,
their love for each other and faith in Jesus Christ will bring them through
every hardship and enrich the most joyous times of their lives.
"People have got to understand that you've got
to learn to laugh at yourself when you make a mistake," Si advised.
"Don't get mad and fly off the handle, OK. We're all human, and we make
mistakes."
"What I tell young couples that are getting
married is: you're going to have quarrels, and on some things, you're just
going to have to agree to disagree. And when you go to bed at night, kiss each
other and tell each other that you love each other. Don't go to bed mad. Life
is too short. Keep it simple."
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