Saturday, September 24, 2005
HE PITCHED A GREAT GAME
What does a boy say about his father? Or what does a man say about his father? I guess he is the person that shapes our lives and molds us into what we are as adults. Well, of course. Actually, my Dad would think that too dramatic! Nevertheless, he definitely is a large figure in your life. In my case, a HUGE figure! At 6 feet 6 inches, Dad towered amongst the other fathers, and mothers, and mother's fathers, etc... His hands were as big as my head! I remember that when I was little. My Dad, given name Martin but called Bud by everyone he knew well, towered over the world. He scared me when I was little. But I was probably the only one!
My Dad was a gentle giant. He may have been very imposing physically but he very seldom chose to use his size to intimidate. Unless of course he was on a basketball court or on a pitching mound. He worked hard to please his parents, his sisters, his wife and his family. He turned down the "big" leagues of baseball for the "big" leagues of parenthood. He was a family man through and through.
Dad always sacrificed, for others, to a fault. If a kid in town needed shoes, Stock's was the place to go even if your family did not have the money. Dad was there leading the School Board, the Merchants Committee, the Methodist Church and the PTA. He would step up to the plate for those who needed a voice and did not have the means to speak! Boy, he could make some people mad! Nevertheless, the next week, he would be shaking hands with them and making, along with their help, my hometown of Arthur a better place to live.
I just wish my Dad would have known the impact he made! Dad led by supplying others an example. What made my Dad great in my eyes is that he always let those he led take credit for the victory. He generated ideas and plans, gave them to others and let them fly! Much like he did with his kids.
Especially his son. My Dad was the kind of athlete that small towns talk about for decades! Actually, big towns would have talked about him for decades. Yet, he did the most difficult thing any father can ever do.....he let his son be his own person. His daughters too. I was not a quick study. I was a challenge. And boy did we have some major fights and disagreements! Too much alike, Mom would say. Eventually, the most important thing Dad ever told me was "you can always come home to your family no matter what".
Now, when I was a hot shot living in the DC metro area, I thought that was just a kindly sentiment. But, when life started dealing me harsh blows I was not accustomed to, I actually took him up on the offer! I came home. Dad was there. He was larger than life. He still was "huge". But like always, his hands were soft and gentle when he patted me on the back and reminded me that I was always welcome.
Today would have been Dad's 77th birthday. I just want you all to know he pitched a great game! He gave up three hits(Marty, Sally, Kent) and no errors. He was credited with batting in more "runs" than he would ever know. Of course, the "save" he would insist go to Pibby, my Mom, because he would have never, ever made it without her. And rightly so.
Did he pitch a perfect game? No. Did he pitch a complete game? Without a doubt.
Miss ya Dad. Even though I sometimes can't get a hit, I'll keep going up to the plate.
My Dad was a gentle giant. He may have been very imposing physically but he very seldom chose to use his size to intimidate. Unless of course he was on a basketball court or on a pitching mound. He worked hard to please his parents, his sisters, his wife and his family. He turned down the "big" leagues of baseball for the "big" leagues of parenthood. He was a family man through and through.
Dad always sacrificed, for others, to a fault. If a kid in town needed shoes, Stock's was the place to go even if your family did not have the money. Dad was there leading the School Board, the Merchants Committee, the Methodist Church and the PTA. He would step up to the plate for those who needed a voice and did not have the means to speak! Boy, he could make some people mad! Nevertheless, the next week, he would be shaking hands with them and making, along with their help, my hometown of Arthur a better place to live.
I just wish my Dad would have known the impact he made! Dad led by supplying others an example. What made my Dad great in my eyes is that he always let those he led take credit for the victory. He generated ideas and plans, gave them to others and let them fly! Much like he did with his kids.
Especially his son. My Dad was the kind of athlete that small towns talk about for decades! Actually, big towns would have talked about him for decades. Yet, he did the most difficult thing any father can ever do.....he let his son be his own person. His daughters too. I was not a quick study. I was a challenge. And boy did we have some major fights and disagreements! Too much alike, Mom would say. Eventually, the most important thing Dad ever told me was "you can always come home to your family no matter what".
Now, when I was a hot shot living in the DC metro area, I thought that was just a kindly sentiment. But, when life started dealing me harsh blows I was not accustomed to, I actually took him up on the offer! I came home. Dad was there. He was larger than life. He still was "huge". But like always, his hands were soft and gentle when he patted me on the back and reminded me that I was always welcome.
Today would have been Dad's 77th birthday. I just want you all to know he pitched a great game! He gave up three hits(Marty, Sally, Kent) and no errors. He was credited with batting in more "runs" than he would ever know. Of course, the "save" he would insist go to Pibby, my Mom, because he would have never, ever made it without her. And rightly so.
Did he pitch a perfect game? No. Did he pitch a complete game? Without a doubt.
Miss ya Dad. Even though I sometimes can't get a hit, I'll keep going up to the plate.
