[November 9, 2024] “We’re moving to Little Rock!” our Dad announced off-handedly as if it were nothing out of the ordinary. But in just a few short weeks, the family was pulling up stakes, packing our suitcases, saying our goodbyes, and leaving behind the lives we’d come to love. The Missouri Pacific Railroad kept giving our Dad new jobs. The household rule was Dad gets a job, and we get to move to a new town.
This move meant we all would have to give up our friends, and I would have to quit my work at our neighbor’s farm. For me, it was leaving behind Linda, the farmer’s daughter and the first girl I’d ever kissed, other than my sister and cousins. I kissed Linda during a game of Spin the Bottle, and yes, I cheated a little to get the bottle to stop, pointing at her to get my kiss. She smiled at me when it was my turn; at least, that’s how I remember it.
1964 was the year I started noticing girls, but I didn’t know why. Linda was pretty. My goodness, it was so sad to leave her behind. But this move was going to be a special adventure, Dad promised, and he always kept his promises. We could get to see our favorite Aunt Rea, who had lived in Little Rock her whole life and who just loved us dearly and doted on us. Aunt Rea was the best and had a beautiful home, two gorgeous and well-behaved collie dogs, and a curmudgeon, cigar-smoking but mostly quiet husband.
Our first visit after moving to Little Rock was to help her build a large, five-story birdhouse. My job was to jigsaw out the plywood walls and floors. My Mom and Aunt Rea glued and nailed it together, and then we painted it white with a green roof. Wow, it sure was a birdhouse masterpiece, and that was Aunt Rea’s high standard. When she did something, it always turned out well.
To us kids from rural Louisiana, Little Rock was a giant city with buildings bigger than we’d ever seen, and one skyscraper could hold more people than our whole town of Mer Rouge. Sitting at the foothills of the Ozarks, Little Rock certainly was a beacon on a shiny hill. Bright lights, restaurants, music, theaters, cars and huge trucks, and people everywhere we looked. Being in the city was like being on another planet; it was that different. I loved it. Well, most of it. That is until I went to school.
Academically, the Little Rock school system was far superior to the small-town version I had been exposed to in Louisiana. I was outclassed in every classroom subject and even in athletics; the kids my age were just faster and better. My parents did not understand the position I was in. Even the girls made fun of me with my short haircut and lanky body. And I “talked funny.” The only subject I did well in was typing class, and “typing was for girls.”
I played catch up that year until, partway through, we moved to Corpus Christi, Texas, way over on the east coast of the state at the Gulf of Mexico. Academics there were more slack, so I had a break. The more teachers required of me, the more I did and the better grades I made. This situation seemed counterintuitive but that’s the way it was. Now, perhaps I could no longer claim to be a Southerner but a Texan. It was a new identity.
Little Rock was a nice town for us kids. Too bad we had to leave. We would live in a brand new house, recently built for the first time. And it had three bedrooms, much more room than before and my brother Philip and I did not need to put our beds in a bunk bed configuration. There were plenty of activities to keep us busy and we got involved with the local neighborhood church. For me, Little Rock was the best town ever. But, then we were to discover the state of Texas.
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NOTE: See all my letters here: https://www.theleadermaker.com/granddaughter-letters/
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Please read my books:
Sir, much appreciate your last letter, #100. Lovely, and I’m sure your granddaughter will love them and appreciate them as much as we do.
The most wonderful thing I’ve read in a long while. Such letters, that tells us the stories of a young boy, growing up in the South with his family. It’s like taking a Time Machine back in time to the 1950s and watching the goings on there. While I’m new to these leadership websites, I never imagined this is what I would find. Sir, thank you for motivating me to make a better person out of myself.
Great letter. Thank you, Gen. Satterfield for your service.
I thought to myself that’s it’s about time for the last letter Gen. Satterfield has been promising now for a long time and he doesn’t disappoint. Sir, loved ❤️❤️❤️ your love letters to your grandkids. They have been a huge motivation for us to do something similar. I for one started writing letters about myself so others some day might read about my thoughts. Thank you dear Satterfield for what you’ve done for us.
I’m new to this website and just read today’s article (Nov. 10, 2024) about getting ready for Thanksgiving Day. This does not mean getting ready for your immediate family—which it does, but there is more to it—but also getting ready to help others who are down on their luck. Giving your own time and money is what being a good American is all about.
Welcome Green Man to a world that expands your thinking and your life.
———— this is the place for us to read, learn, think, and focus ourselves. You can get just started by reading Gen. Satterfield’s books, or going back to earlier articles. So, with that recommendation, welcome aboard, Green Man 🤢 .
Bless you, Gen. Satterfield. 🙏
Loved this letter but said it is your last.
Wilma, yes, he did say early on that he was writing 100 letters. But he did write an introduction so maybe he’ll write a final chapter. That is the kind of style of Gen. S. Crossed fingers. Many of us who write in this leadership forum have been fans for a long time, some for a decade. We find the writings that are posted here to be entertaining and informative. I smiled each time I read a letter to his grandkids. And conveniently, there is a tab that has all his letters in chronological order. The next series, as I understand it, will be about his combat tour during the buildup to the “surge.” For those who like to read about great challenges, that will be one to anticipate. Keep on blogging, Gen. S., your fans await.
CRAZY, that’s all? Man, these letters came and went really quickly. Seems like just yesterday that Gen. Satterfield began the series. Interesting how they evolved. And this one is about “moving” his family from his old home to a new one, and the shock of giving up all his friends. I guess it could have been worse but for kids, they think their friends are everything.
Wilma, great point. I’m surprised the series has finally come to an end.
YES ….. Little Rock, Arkansas. I lived there for many years back in the 1960s, about the time you were also there with your Aunt Rea. Since that time, there’s been a class of people who moved into the nicer neighborhoods, dragging down home prices and driving out the middle class, good Christians who really made the city a nice, family-friendly place to live and raise a family. The city is finally fighting back against high crime, trashed areas, and homelessness. But, sadly, the pandering political class let it go so far down because they didn’t want to be seen as racist. And now that President Donald Trump is re-elected, he will bring back sanity and have the backs of politicians who want to clean up their own cities. Let’s pray that it works and the Little Rock we knew comes roaring back.
Funny story about your first kiss.
Great letter thank you, Gen. Satterfield.
💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌
Yeah, but what’s next? For new readers, note that Gen. Satterfield has written two books, both are written in an easy-to-read format and tell stories from his time in the US Army from the lessons he learned. If you don’t have a copy, go to Amazon and order your copy today. You will not regret that decision. So, what next Gen. S.?
… make these letters into a book? 🇺🇸
❤️ A great love letter. 💌 I pray that you and your family are well and prosperous. 🙏 Your letters to your granddaughter/ grandkids have been an inspiration for me to also write letters too. 👍 Keep up your website because you are providing value for us. 🦾 And thank you for the books you wrote as I have them both. 📚
Must have been tough after moving up from rural Louisiana.
Academically, the Little Rock school system was far superior to the small-town version I had been exposed to in Louisiana. I was outclassed in every classroom subject and even in athletics; the kids my age were just faster and better. My parents did not understand the position I was in. Even the girls made fun of me with my short haircut and lanky body. And I “talked funny.” The only subject I did well in was typing class, and “typing was for girls.”
Thank you, sir, for your series. I’m new here and just learned that you promised 100 letters, and this is your last one. I’m going back now to read the entire set of letters at:
https://www.theleadermaker.com/granddaughter-letters/
I also just ordered your book, “55 rules for a good life “ which comes highly recommended from those here I. The comments forum. Sure glad I stumbled upon this website. 😀😀😀😀😀😀
Welcome aboard, Melissa an$ I think you will enjoy my book.
Sir, we’ve all been enjoying your articles, and especially this series of “letters to my granddaughter.” It is unusual to get such an enthusiastic insight into how anyone who was successful as an army officer. This was not easy and takes discipline, focus, and dedication. I remember in your letters that you always had a difficult time with your “focus” and for some reason. But you overcame that problem. Well done. I look forward to your next series, whatever that may be. Congratulations on completing these letters as you promised you would.
Thank you sir, beautiful and loving letters. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Another great letter that gives us all a peek into the mind of Gen. Satterfield as a little boy. 👍
These letters certainly have been a wonderful and insightful look into the life of a boy fro the South before the drug scene got going. Thank you Gen. S.
Damn, the last letter to Gen. Doug Satterfield’s granddaughter.
Yep. 💌💌💌😍😍😍😎😎😎❤️❤️❤️