My Dad – The Legend

I may not be the most eloquent writer, and I know that sometimes my words can be misunderstood. Right now, as I write, I am overcome with both joyful memories and the sorrow that comes with seeing the final chapters of an extraordinary life. What follows are a few reflections I’ve gathered during this season.

Just over sixty-three years ago, Eric Lidh’s life took on a new meaning. Already married to the love of his life—a story full of memories in itself—my parents welcomed me into the world, and his name changed forever to “father,” or, even better, “dad.” In the following six years, three more children joined our family, making him, as Bill Cosby would say, a “real” parent. During this time, my dad worked tirelessly at his job while also pursuing the degree that would shape his public legacy. He eventually accepted a teaching position at a high school in the Chicago area, where his influence touched lives that, even today, look back fondly on those years. For me, however, he was simply Dad. As the eldest, I’ll admit I wasn’t thrilled about sharing my parents with my siblings, but Dad always managed to divide his attention evenly. Though his career in teaching and drama kept him busy, he never faltered in his roles as a devoted husband and loving father. I vividly remember one day when some older kids were taunting us in the front yard. Suddenly, the front door slammed, and before we knew it, Dad sprinted across the yard, picked up one kid while grabbing another, and made it clear their behavior wouldn’t be tolerated. I’m not sure exactly what he said, but they never bothered us again.

As a schoolteacher, Dad had summers off. Mom, being a stay-at-home mom for 15+ years, allowed them to take us on interesting trips around the country. We traveled extensively across the U.S. and parts of Canada, starting with a tent on an ant hill, then a pop-up Camel trailer towed by a VW camper, and later a Scottie travel trailer.  I remember travelling through the hills in Tennessee, where the VW would struggle with the climbs and Dad would rock back and forth saying “I think I can, I think I can”. This was followed with sort of racing the trucks on the back side. He liked to tease Mom by easing on to the reflectors and I would hear “ERIC”. Occasionally that was followed by “ow, ow, ow”.  

His side of the family comes from Sweden and in the early 1970’s, a Swedish jet company introduced a car to the US called Saab. Of course, my dad had to buy one and then in a twist, move us to what seemed to be Nowhere, Kentucky. Actually, it was the home of Asbury College and Seminary but, still seemed to me to be nowhere. I bring up the Saab because no one in the great state of Kentucky knew what to do with it so he had to take it back to Chicago to have it serviced.

At Asbury, Dad was brought in to manage the drama department. As was his way, he not only oversaw it, but he also brought it to the forefront at the college. Some parents expressed concern when their college-age children selected drama as their major.  “What good could possibly come out of that?” For four years, he impacted lives. For me, I was introduced to the early days of contemporary Christian music. People like Andre Crouch and Steve Archer (The Archers) still ring in my head today. I also discovered The University of Kentucky and their basketball. Dad would let me, as old enough, take part in a class or two. It was my first exposure to college. I was cast in the musical “Camelot” as “Tom of Warwick”. If I had a regret during this time, it was that I didn’t truly appreciate my life as it was. I would go to rehearsals for the various plays and musicals, see Dad work and in my heart, beam with pride that this person was my dad. My life was really enriched during these days. One time, Dad took a team of students and performed “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” on a riverboat. For a summer, he took a professional troop in Ohio, directing them in “Oklahoma”. We walked the streets singing to the Archers for anyone who would listen. We used a little cassette player since “boom boxes” had not come around yet.

After four years at Asbury, Dad took a music minister’s position just outside of Mobile, AL. So, we went from Nowhere, Kentucky to Deep South, Alabama, where for the first month, it rained every day right around 3:00pm. While I think Dad was good at this position, the church decided that he wasn’t the right fit for them. I can make up a lot of reasons, but most come off as just mean from my vantage point. The next several months were both a blessing and a curse as he took a job with Aramark at a paper company. During that time, things just got tough for Mom and Dad but, they never really let us in on all that was going on. They worked to keep things as normal as possible.

I must pause here. My parents are believers in Jesus Christ. Their lives were guided by this. God has a plan, a purpose for those who are called by Him. I’ve told many young people over the years that age helps us recognize God’s work, even when it’s not obvious at the time.  This was especially clear in how things turned out for Dad.  The only way this works is to let go and follow God wherever he leads.

While in Mobile, working for Aramark, the company offered my dad an opportunity to head up a school lunch program for some city schools. So, he packed us up and we moved to what some have described as “the armpit of the world”. Nothing could be further from the truth but, still Andalusia, Alabama is really in the middle of nowhere. As a sophomore in high school, I started at yet another new place where I did not know anyone and most had grown up together. Dad was over the city school system’s breakfast and lunch programs. Now for the God part. There is a small community college in Andalusia, a junior college back then, that put out a job posting for their speech and drama department. Their qualifications request matched Dad perfectly. Teaching and influencing lives have always been who he is. He took the job and for more than thirty-five years, impacted hundreds of lives. Not only did he impact lives, he impacted the school and the community. This is where the rise of the line “The Man, The Myth, The Legend” started. There is so much here that writing it all out would take days. Never, in my imagination, would I have thought that I would be known as “Oh, you’re Eric Lidh’s son”. I do have a name but, between “Sue’s husband” and “Eric’s son” I am content to just be who I am.

There isn’t a place in middle to southern Alabama where you can go without meeting people who know my dad. I would not be overstating this if I said that he has influenced thousands upon thousands of lives. Even as I write this out, my eyes well up with tears both in sadness at what is to come but also with pride in all that I know about him. When people say “you are just like your father” I gladly say “yes, I am”. After all, I am the son of “the legend”.

As I close this out, I don’t know what my life would be like if it weren’t for my dad. His love for Mom was beyond compare. His dedication to his family was undeniable. His work, to influence people to be the absolute best they can, will continue. My life has been greatly influenced by what I have seen in his life.  

I will pause again to say thank you to Bobbie and Lisa. Bobbie for being a part of his life, not only as a former student at Asbury but now as his wife and partner as he reaches the end. She has been a big part of these past few years. I am grateful for this. Lisa has made a significant contribution, supporting Mom during her battle with cancer and after her passing, as well as helping Dad in her own way.  And now, as things progress with him, being right there by his side, using not only knowledge and expertise but compassion and love. I know there are many, many others who have been so much a part of these last few years but, I couldn’t name them all. I am familiar with a number of these.   It is all part of “the legend”, who is to me, Dad.

I love my dad!

Scott