The Polecat

To sit and write 55 years of memories of your daddy in a condensed narrative is a challenge. I imagine the title I chose, immediately flooded most of us with memories that have faded over time. But when I thought about that name, my memories went back to those carefree days of long ago. Memories of daddy throwing me in the creeks on the back place. The fear he had when I would run and jump off the bank of Bolatusha Creek, and he would think I would not surface back fast enough.  All the trips on the Big Black River checking trot lines or walking the fields searching for arrow heads. All the stew cookings, the deer hunting with dogs, drinking out of the overflow well, and riding in that big black and white 4-wheel drive through flooded waters. Before they finished Interstate 55, he would drive it all the way back to Jackson. One time he let me ride in the back of his truck stuffed in a pair of his blue jeans going back home. He taught me how to hunt, shoot a gun without missing the target, and how to drive. I remember leaving Goodman going back to grandma’s and he let me drive. Uncle Don was with us and was constantly yelling Melvin! Melvin! I guess my driving was not so good.

He was a hard-headed Hutchison, and we sure could butt heads, but that Hutchison blood runs in my veins too. I think he secretly enjoyed arguing with me. Every time we went to the hospital, all the staff would laugh at how we argued. He was not a good patient.

It has been hard watching a very proud man decline in health over the last two years. I am thankful Tiffany and I were both there holding his hands for him to know he was not alone in his final days. He is not sick or in pain anymore, and we can rest easy knowing he went home to heaven.

So, Polecat, thank you for giving me the love of adventure, to have no fear, the love of creeks and rivers, the love of artifact hunting, the love of Willie and Waylon’s music, and giving my children the same wonderful Newport memories. That is where the most cherished memories I have were made. And I know our precious Kayla was there to greet you, with this: Papaw, I have a question.

Dawn Renee