Tags
Cubs, Dodgers, Fathers and Sons, fathers day, First Baseball Game, friendships, lessons, memories, outreach ministry, slide
I mentioned in my last post that it wasn’t from a lack of things to write about. I want to draft a few words about fathers day. Fathers day is quite meaningful to me. There is a special bond between and father and his child. I know it is quite different with sons and daughters but I can only relate to the son part so when I write this, I am coming from that viewpoint.
This past Fathers day was my eighth overall and I can honestly say they just continue to get better and better every year. I know there will be some rough and rocky years ahead as he transitions into a pre-teen and then a full blown teenager, but I am going to enjoy the hell out of what God gives me now. In the beginning it was just the thought of Fathers day, a holiday that celebrated Dads and Grandfathers. Not much you can do with a little guy who was basically two months old for my first Fathers day. But as our own little guy has aged, we have been able to do more and more. The gifts are handmade, and I will keep them and cherish them my entire life. This year I got a wonderful card from him that he made at school and a beautiful picture frame that he made with his Nana (NewMom’s mother). I know he doesn’t quite comprehend how much these items mean to newmom and I but perhaps in the future he will get gifts similar to these from his own son or daughter.
This past Fathers day also was the fifth where I did not have a telephone call to make to my own father (if anyone knows the number to the afterlife, please send it my way, I’d love to phone him). I know I have written about the empty hole I have in my life with him passing, but on Fathers day that hole is a little bigger and deeper. I have many fond memories of my dad, but at the same time I have many not so fond memories as well. He could be an insufferable ass at times and when newmom once asked me “did your dad teach you many things?” I honestly answered “yes, he taught me what a bad husband and father looks like.” I truly mean that. But by the time he was called home to the lord, he also showed me what a great father and a good son looked like. He was my friend, my confidant, my consigliere and one of my biggest fans. Those are the traits I hope I will be able to take with me for the rest of my life and teach my own son.
OK, enough of that. As I said, Fathers day seems to find a way to get more amazing with each and every year. This year we had not just an amazing Fathers day, but an epic weekend from Friday through Sunday!! It all started Friday night with our outreach ministry, Shepherds Sandwich. This is always a special moment as we as a family gather with others to help those less fortunate that ourselves. Our good friend Will and his mom Amanda joined us, which was great, it was the first time they joined us! Afterwards we all went out for dinner. We love Will, Amanda and Todd, the boys have been playing baseball together for a few years now and it has been a true joy to see them grow up together as friends.
Saturday morning the little guy and I were off to collect the fruits of our ministries labor and take them to the Salvation Army men’s shelter while newmom ran some of her own errands. We had a good morning doing that together then stopped off at my work to pick up five important pieces of paper. While we were there a obligatory trip down the slide was in order!!
So what could be so important about five pieces of paper? Well nothing about the paper, but more about what was printed on them!! Saturday evening we took the little guy along with newmom’s parents to Chavez Ravine to see the Dodgers play my beloved Chicago Cubs (GO CUBS GO!!). The drive up was HELL!! It took us well over two hours to get up there. Now I have lived in Southern California for over 20 years now and it has NEVER taken that long to get to the stadium before. Well, after we got to our seats, I was blessed with a Cubs victory (the only game of the series they won), the little guy ate his first Dodger Dog, went to his first Dodger/Cubs game and we all had a GREAT time! Driving home was not a problem after we were able to get out of the parking lot (never a good time at Dodger Stadium!).
Sunday morning, Fathers day was finally upon us. We made it to Church and listened to a great sermon from our pastor, then went home and lounged around a while before going over to newmom’s parents house to celebrate the Dads! We had NewMoms dad there, myself and all of the little guys uncles (all Dads!). It was a wonderful afternoon, the Cubs/Dodgers game was the Sunday night game of the week (although the Cubs lost, it was an exciting game) and we had a wonderful meal! We came home and I opened a couple of additional gifts from the little guy and newmom and just spent some time winding down.
It was an exceptional Fathers day weekend, one that I will remember for many years and look back on fondly as I reflect on Fathers days, present and past.
And Dad, thanks for all the lessons, both good and bad.