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 moreless Delete
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 moreless Delete
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". moreless Delete
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 moreless Delete
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 moreless Delete
Well, its me again. Jim Delete
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. moreless Delete
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. moreless Delete
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 moreless Delete
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 moreless Delete
David and Dad at Tanglewood Delete
Nita Crosslin, Russell Puckett and Joe Earl Crosslin Delete
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. moreless Delete
Dad Marines Iwakuni, Japan Delete
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 moreless Delete
Joey, Dad, Catherine and David Delete
This photo was taken in Virginia. Delete
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 moreless Delete
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. moreless Delete
Mozelle Crosslin, Joe Earl Crosslin and Joe Elmer Crosslin Delete
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. moreless Delete
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! moreless Delete
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! moreless Delete
Catherine and Dad at Tanglewood Delete
David, Joey, Dad and Catherine Delete
This photo was taken at Old Salem, NC. Delete
Joey, David and Dad Delete
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 moreless Delete
Three very smart and handsome gents! Delete
Catherine and Dad Delete
Dad and Catherine Delete
Catherine and Joe at Tweetsie Railroad. Delete
He is so handsome in his Dress Blues! Delete
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. moreless Delete
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 moreless Delete
That is one of my favorites. Thanks, Joey. Delete