I was getting ready for school when a friend called me from school. She said, "Marlene, your Dad is on the radio." Since that was typical, many times each day, I said, "Well, he is always on the radio. She said, "No, it's different this time." I said, "Oh, well, I was told he was going to be on Gunsmoke this season...it's probably advertising that." She said, "No, Marlene. You better turn on the radio."

I turned it on and immediately heard that the plane was missing. Mom was asleep and I did not awake her yet. I just continued to listen. It seemed like forever; but, the speaker came on and said that the plane was found and there were no survivors.

I woke Mom up (Mom was Reva, Hawkshaw's first wife of 18 years) and told her I wanted to go to Nashville. She called Jim (her second husband) at work and he left work heading home in Hyattsville, Md. Mom and I started packing to travel to Nashville.

It was terrible hearing some of the comments on the radio all the way to Nashville. There's a lot more to this story; but, I always get left out of Daddy's life. It's like I wasn't part of his marriage with Reva. The boys get mentioned and invited to all the memorials and special events...I don't even hear about them.

I sing, too...but I have never been invited to the next generation events. The last part of my e-mail address is my URL...so go visit. Listen to my songs on the "Marlene's Gospel Music" page. "Daughter's Prayer" is in memory of my Dad...the late, great, Hawkshaw Hawkins.