My Girl, Hoodoo

My daughter, Hillary Ibarra, whose blog this is, was involved in a very bad automobile accident on Friday last, and is in the hospital.  Though her injuries are severe, the prognosis for recovery is good.  Your prayers would be greatly appreciated.

I must tell you, as a father, that it is pure hell to be so far away when your child is hurt.  My one consolation in all this is that she is married to an exceptionally good man.  Matthew is strong, intelligent, kind, and extremely capable; she is in the best of hands at this difficult time.

Her mother and I will go to be with her, of course, as soon as is possible.  In the meantime, I wanted to inform all of you as to her circumstances, and relate a little of my relationship with my girl, "Hoodoo Bear".

She is our baby, and was always the best of children.  God blessed Karen and me with four children, now grown into fine people all.  And though I did not believe in "sparing the rod" as a father, I must confess that in fact I used it sparingly indeed, and with Hillary, not at all.

My favorite trick when my children were in need of discipline was to line them up, send their mother in search of a belt, and then lecture them as to the evils of whatever it was they'd done.  Eventually, of course, they would plead with me to forgo the torture of the seemingly endless lecture and just go ahead and beat them.  I didn't - my lectures were the greatest deterrent to bad behavior I could employ.

Not once did I use the paddle with Hillary.  I did raise my voice to her once, when she was three or four, and she immediately dissolved into tears.  I've regretted the incident ever since, for I soon discerned that her tears were not for "getting caught" but rather a result of her comprehending that she'd been "bad".  Hillary, you see, is one of those rare people who are just naturally good.  Any thought of being selfish, petty, or mean is simply alien to her.

Now, since she cannot be here, it falls to me to proudly announce that she is being published this day on the site "Aiming Low".  If you will, go there and read her work, and you will discover yet another reason for my pride in her.  Here's the link: Alright, I'm old enough to be entering the borders of Geezerdom, and I don't know how to create a link.  Hillary, poor girl, could do it - I'm lost.  But hey; how hard can it be?  You just go to aiminglow.com, and there is her post, on the front page, Keeping them Safe with Paranoia and Fear.  Please, go.  Enjoy.  And, please, pray for my sweet girl's recovery.  Thanks, Daniel Hylton