"Be Safe," Dad said.

Be safe

How could I have forgotten? "Be safe." It was by far, my father's most frequent mantra, in his quiet, diligent parental oversight of his family and me, his somewhat wayward son.

I wrote a prior post entitled Look at Him!

I reference my parent's wedding, my Father's prayers, and my adopted nephew's wedding vows and promise. I received some touching feedback in Comments, including from Tyler's mother-in-law, Jewel. I have made the case before, that it's those Comments and Shares that can build a story. And can spark new stories.

As I drafted my reply to Jewel, it brought me back again to memories of my parents, especially my Father's influence. I wanted to tell Jewel that I was proud and believed in her son-in-law, Tyler and that I think very well of Jewel's daughter, Jillian and her family and Tyler's family.

That was the purpose. Replying with gratitude. And that's how memories happen again. Stories about stories and within stories. And again, my father's voice came back.

Not "Jesus Christ, Bri." That one is memorable, but it was not frequent. But "Be safe, Bri." yes, dad said that one all the time. Every time. So I shared that with Jewel too.

Replying to Comments

This is my author's reply. I included two Legacy Portraits of my parents on their wedding day in 1958. And a picture of me, Tyler, and Jillian (Jewel's daughter) on their wedding day in 2025. Miles in time apart. But the connection with me in the middle is my point.

Dear Jewel

Wow.   It's tough to formulate a response to such  kindness and generous compliments. Both Tyler’s family and yours are over the top brimming with love. I feel it during  those family gatherings when y'all are together.  “Authentic” as you say. 

Plus a lot of  cool people show up at your family parties! The food is good too.  

Thank you - I have always loved Tyler as if he were  my  own blood. He started the trend calling me “Uncle Pat” when we first connected.  He wanted a quick explanation for why he was hanging out so much with an old dude!  I have since taken to calling him my adopted nephew — but he is proudly a Branham and he and his dad and all of his kin  adopted me and welcomed me in, not the other way around. 

Look at Them - Walter and Peggy , 1958

My parents would have  loved Tyler as they did me — both of us would have driven them nuts!  Don’t worry, Tyler has calmed considerably from when he was eighteen!  He was off the charts then. Like I said in the prior post, “Unbridled passion that is hard to reel in.”  

Of course, I thought that was awesome. That was me too. I got a kick out of watching Tyler sow his oats with a passion for everything. He reminds me of a young me. And that reminds my parents. I believe that my parents liked the crazy flare that they could not control.  I know my father did for sure.

It was just worrisome.  But they knew who I was and my fathers go-to phrase of affection  on my way out the door to the next adventure  was not “I love you.” It was “Be safe”.  My dad said that one more than  Jesus Mary and Saint Joseph! 

Look at Them -- Tyler and Jillian, 2025

Tyler knows - I say it to him all the time: "Be safe." It’s more practical. And there is a lot of love behind my fathers’s few words and prayers. So I repeat them proudly as a habit. 

I believe with great certainty that Tyler is going to surprise even himself and y'all with his amazing life and accomplishments that haven’t even blasted  off yet. But I know - I know for sure. I am certain,  mark my words. He just needs to be safe and everything will blossom from there.  

He is a great man. 

And he is just getting started. 

Your  daughter is a gem. She gets a good deal of credit for cooling Tyler’s jets enough to focus on those beautiful wedding vowels!   Tyler picked a winner — I told you that. And I picked the winner in him and your daughter and his dad and all of you.

Look at Them!

There is a connection between two different weddings in two different eras, in location and times that are world's apart. But their journey's are now linked. By a ring and by me.

There can be no greater privilege than being in the middle generation and to pass it on.

Thank you Jewel. That was a cool note. 

Love Pat