Sunday Night With John: Exchanging Dad Stories with My Aunt

You couldn’t get a word in edge at my grandma and grandpa Derryberry’s house. There were seven large-and-in-charge personalities circling throughout the hazy smoked filled house when all the family was in town. As a kid I just watched my dad banter with his three brothers and one sister as my grandma tried to make sure everyone had fourths of the meal she created and my grandpa only spoke up when he couldn’t hear the whatever Cleveland sports game on the TV.  I vividly remember one trip when my Aunt Diane was sitting in my Dad’s favorite chair. My Dad wanted her to move and she said she wouldn’t.  My Dad then sat down on the arm off the chair and leaned on my aunt refusing to move until she agreed to give him his chair. My aunt dug in her heels and refused to move until our visit was over. The stubborn standoff was started and I realized the stubborn streak runs deep in the Derryberry clan.

Two weeks ago my aunt let me know she was driving around the country for a couple of weeks with a friend. She was going to make her way back to Ohio to visit family and wanted to stop in Iowa City for a quick visit. We met at the Bluebird Diner, just east of downtown Iowa City. My aunt was the youngest and only girl of five children and after this breakfast I had no clue how she turned out so cool with the ringer her brothers put her through.  My aunt told me a story about when she was seven and my dad took her along to watch him and his brother play baseball. She stated that one guy didn’t show up and she was forced into playing. My dad told her she could either play second base, or be second base.  She decided to play second base and the ball was hit to her and one of my Dad’s friends was running from first base and ran her over. She stated that my dad came running over to check on her and she showed my Dad, her big brother, that she didn’t drop the ball.  She made her big brother proud.

My aunt also confirmed stories that I’ve heard about her going on dates with my Dad and Mom.  My Dad would come in and ask her if she wanted ice cream.  What seven year old would say no to hanging out with her big brother and ice cream? She stated it wasn’t until she was in the car that she realized she was the excuse for my Dad to go see my mom. She laughed and said she didn’t care because your Dad was the coolest person ever to her when I was seven.  We laughed about my Dad’s hatred of authority figures and people telling him what to do. I laughed smiled and said I didn’t fall too far from that tree.

Our conversation stretched into its third hour when it had to come to a close.  My aunt was off to her next adventure, the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa. And I was off to work. I was 20 minutes late to work but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I haven’t seen my father since 1997, but I’m still learning about the man every day. More importantly, our relationships with our Derryberry family have endured.  We have stayed in touch and we are still laughing, learning, and connecting. As for the fateful standoff all those years ago over a chair, my aunt never relented and my Mom called time, as she was ready to go home. My aunt outlasted her big brother, and I bet that made him proud too.