This is one of my favorites, as well. Thank you, Joey. I ... was stunned to learn that a man who could write such beautiful and soul-searching lines was unable to give love to his own son. Sometimes the cage that surrounds us with invisible bars makes us fail to recognize our own truth, thus causing us to fail to give love to those who deserve it the most. Love, Aunt Nita more
Joey, your dad loved this poem and wore thin the pages of ... the Robert Frost book that you gave him. This was indeed one of his favorites. There are many interpretations to this poem. I wonder what interpretation he entertained. Knowing him as well as I did, I think it was probably the Individualism he clung so closely to. My interpretation is different now that I am older and have revisited the poem. I am still mulling over it. Love, Mom more
I, too, believe that your dad took many things from this poem. ... Individualism was certainly a strong thread that ran through all the things Joe wanted to teach. Most of all, I think he knew that every choice we make in life has a cost. Sometimes that cost is small, sometimes it is not. As Jim once said to me, "No matter how much you dream about what might have, the road you choose is the road you travel". more
Nita, Joe did realize there was a cost to each of the ... choices one makes in their life. In Joe's case, while he may have thought he calculated the cost, not sure if he calculated the risk accurately. But,,,,,,,,,,,as you say, whichever path one takes, one path leads to another and it is rare that one can or will turn back. Suzanne more
Suzanne, the losses in this matter were beyond the reach of any ... calculations. Best, Jim more
Jim, I still would like to think that if I were he, ... I would have weighed the odds of the risk a bit more carefully. I have been faced with a similar situation to his since moving back to Tennessee, and after weighing the odds of the risk, made the decision to lay it aside. In my opinion, it is a selfish risk that one takes when making a critical choice that involves so many other people's lives. Sorry, but I can't let Joe of the hook so easily on this one. Suzanne more
Suzanne, I agree 100%. The losses include many other people's lives. All ... the losses, the depth of which is beyond words. I admire you for your choices and my intent is to stand in strongest empathy with you, Catherine, Joey, David and their families in friendship and love. Jim more
Well, its me again. Jim
It is moving to look at these videos of Joe, Mother, and ... the children. As Joe's birthday approaches, I hope he knows how much we miss him . This is the first year in my 65 years on this earth that my big brother is no longer here to say happy birthday to. Perhaps he has Mother, Dad, Mama Sudie, Granddaddy, Earl Daddy, and others now who are wishing him happy birthday. more
This is another special video with Nita and her boys and Nana ... visiting us in NC. Nita is expecting her third child, Catherine, and captures some sweet moments with her camera. I love it when Catherine gives her dad two kisses as he lovingly carries her in his arms. :) Mom more
Dad always loved gifts created by us more than anything else we ... could possibly give him. This particular year I put together a CD of some of the music that I remember from our years in our home on Pinebluff. Along with the CD cover of Dad and I shot in Old Salem is his letter back to me upon receiving his gift. I will treasure it always. Happy Father's Day Dad - with much love your son, Joey. more
Joey, what a labor and thoughtful gift of love that you put ... together for your dad for Father's Day in his 65th year. He was so thankful as evidenced by his letter. It allowed him to go back through the "windmills of his mind" which he indicates was important to him at that time and place in his life. Thank you for giving him a gift that kept on giving! Love, Mom more
Joey, I agree with what your mom said. I think that this ... gift of love to your dad gave him a gentle space to remember the many special moments you all shared as a family. I believe this gift of musical memories brought him solace during difficult times. I, too, remember the "Sounds of Home" coming from the den during our years of visits. I love the picture of you and your dad together. Thank you for sharing this special memory with all of us. Love, Aunt Nita more
David and Dad at Tanglewood
This photo was made in the late summer of 1970. David is ... learning to master his walking skills. Note his dad's hand extended encouraging him to do so but, also , ready to catch him should he fall. Joe was very good with the children especially when they were younger. Suzanne more
Nita Crosslin, Russell Puckett and Joe Earl Crosslin
It is hard to find a photo of Uncle Puckett in which ... he doesn't have a cigar in his mouth. More times than not he would simply chew on them and work them down to the smallest of snubs. Dad evidently picked up the same practice as I found a tiny bit of a cigar pushed down in the mouths of one of his many tobacco pipes. more
Take note of the three sets of patterns in our living room. ... It is no wonder I suffer from ADHD! I certainly had an overdose of visual stimulation! more
Dad Marines Iwakuni, Japan
Look at that stance your dad had in this photo. I remember ... him telling me about a black shirt that he had back then and how much he liked it. This may have been it. Also, note that cigar he had in his right hand. For some peculiar reason, I always liked the way he held it. If that had been me holding it that way, I would have burned myself! Suzanne more
In the opening shot of this video, Joe and I are on ... our way to a New Year's Eve party. We look quite enthralled with each other and very much in love. I remember that I was 27 years old. Next, we are taking all three children to Shaffner Park in Winston-Salem, another frequented event in our lives. David keeps trying hard and insists on keeping up with his older brother, Joey. He for sure does not want to miss out on anything! Love the shot towards the end with Joey and David wading in the creek - reminds me of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. Also, love that shot of Catherine and David at the end while we were vacationing at the beach in SC. Nana was taking this movie. Hey, Nana, thanks for getting that great shot of Joe's legs !! :) Suzanne more
I love this picture of the four little girls who played together ... so often, Betty Lou Dyer, Juanita Crosslin, Esther and Martha Kay Crosslin. Uncle Joe and Joe Earl were standing behind us. more
We must have been dressed up for Easter. I remember this dress. ... It was one of my favorites. It was light pine and I always loved the ruffles and the softness of the material. Every year, Earl Daddy and Katie sent me a new Easter dress when I was a little girl. Mother always bought me a corsage, too. I felt so dressed up. Martha Kay, Esther, Betty Lou and I all looks so happy on this sunny day. It's such a special picture. more
Mozelle Crosslin, Joe Earl Crosslin and Joe Elmer Crosslin
Looks as if Joe Elmer is examining his fingernails. Joe (Earl) was ... meticulous about his nails. They were always trimmed and NEVER dirty or, at least, not so for long as he always kept them groomed as did my dad. :) Suzanne more
I am intrigued by this picture of Mozelle. Mother always said that ... she was as cute as she could be and was always breaking the guys hearts! Then one day she came in and said she had fallen in love. Knowing Moe, they all thought she was joking. Shortly after that, she brought my uncle Howard Abernathy to meet the family. Mother said that they could not believe the change in Mozelle! It was obvious to all that Moe had found the love of her life. more
J.C., I had forgotten about those morning rides. I guess I was ... still asleep when Mother picked you up. What a special memory and story. Thank you for the years of friendship that you and Joe Earl shared. Nita more
Joe standing with my two sons, Tom and Richard Reed, on our ... wedding day in Hiawassee, Ga. on May 22nd, 1993. more
I believe this might be Dad when he was at Earl Daddy's ... place in Clayton, LA more
This is Joe Earl, with his nanny Calma . He is trying ... to catch the gold fish in the fist pond in Earl Daddy and Katie's front yard. Notice the leash that is on Joe. Mother said people in Eagleville thought she was terrible for using the leash on Joe. She said it was the only way she could keep up with him! more
Dad would always tell me about being tethered often to a tree ... in the front yard of Crosslin house in Eagleville. I can only imagine him jumping up and down at the end of a leash attached to a tree. Glad that Nana had abandoned those techniques when it came time for all the grandchildren! more
Yes, she (Nana) told me about having a harness on him when ... he was small and all the disapproving looks that she would get from others. He must have been very daring and this was probably the only way your featherweight grandmother could keep him in line. :) Mom more
Joe, Suzanne, Nita, and Tommy Joey, Tom, and Mama Sudie. Photo taken ... in Mama Sudie's living room. more
Catherine and Dad at Tanglewood
This is a darling picture of Catherine and her dad sharing a ... coke. I need to send this to some "coke" people. They will love it! Suzanne more
I sent this to my first cousin, Sue Anne, and my second ... cousin, Morgan. last evening. Sue Anne would come visit us in Winston while in school at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. I, Joe, and the children always enjoyed her visits. :) Suzanne more
Dad
My dad, Joe Elmer Crosslin. This is where my grandson, Grant Thomas ... Sadler gets his dimples. more
When dad was a little boy , people who would visit Mama ... Sudie and Granddaddy would want to see Dad because of his dimples. He finally got tired of being called in the show his dimples, so he began to fill them up with mud! more
Some of the photos of Joe Elmer remind me of the actor, ... Richard Burton. :) Suzanne more
I don't know whether he shared any looks with Richard Burton, but ... he certainly had several other traits in common with him. more
Brent "Pete" Hughes., son of Tom Hughes. Tom Hughes and my grandmother ... Pattie Hughes Ferguson were brother and sister. Joe Earl looks like he is taking his first steps. more
Joey, David and Dad
This photo was taken in our den on Pinebluff in Winston, and ... Joey drew and painted the picture on the wall behind him within an hour's time. He is an extremely gifted artist majoring in Architecture at UN - Charlotte before transferring his major to Biology. Looks as if he a freshman in college and David would have been in the 8th grade. Joe, their dad, is making eyes either at the camera or me. Considering the time frame, I'd say it was the camera. Suzanne more
Three very smart and handsome gents!
Catherine and Dad
Photo taken in den at Pinebluff Rd. Catherine's dad was 33 years ... old. more
I always thought Joe Earl looked like Clark Gable, but this picture ... reminds me of George Clooney. more
Margie, I agree, this does look somewhat like George Clooney. Joe really ... did look like Clark Gable though particularly when he started wearing a mustache. It always "sends me back" when I watch a Clark Gable movie. Suzanne This photo looks like Joe is still sleepy or has a cold. more
Joe jokes with his nephew and niece, Richard Reed and Catherine Reed ... Sadler, as he is being saged. more
Dad 10 months
Dad and Catherine
Catherine and Joe at Tweetsie Railroad.
Peek-a-boo-to you too, Catherine. Looks like your dad was making sure you ... were protected from the weather and anything else that might harm you. That is an adoring look he is giving you! :) Love, Mom/Suzanne more
He is so handsome in his Dress Blues!
I can remember how hard it was for Mother and Dad to ... earn the money to buy Joe's Dress Blues. I want to think that at the time, they cost one hundred dollars.. They both worked so hard to put aside the money to be able to give Joe Dress Blues. It was such a proud moment for them when they gave him his gift. more
Nita, that is so touching to know that. I do think that ... Joe was so appreciative for the things that he knew that your parents had sacrificed to give him. A hundred dollars back then was a "wad" for sure. He is indeed handsome in his uniform. I always thought that he was the best looking guy at UT! Suzanne more
That is one of my favorites. Thanks, Joey. Delete