I Think That Fathers Are Important
This was a story I first wrote on EP and while trying to do some simple edits things got worse. Still it captures the essence of a rally fine man
He was a big man in every way,and though I never got past 6'2 ,he was big in love generosity,but also good spirits,and humor..he was the funniest person I've ever known,and thats going some.
I used to be an early riser,and would have breakfasts with him. We were secret sharers in this ritual,this father son communion.The WMCA "Goodguys" were always on,slightly muted,providing a backdrop to the warm ambience;My father always made toast in the broiler giving the kitchen an amiable warmth.
"We're first on your diiiiial",the "Goodguys would sing,merrily.."How ya doing,CJ,ol fella,old boy..he had a half dozen such nicknames,it was a greeting part of the ritual.
I just smiled,glad to be there." How do you want your toast"
In truth it only came in semi burned,but details are important. My egg was to be "once over easy",my bacon less crispy,again,something to be hoped for,rather than received. My Dad would start talking as he turned the sizzling bacon,and eggs and flipped over the toast with a fork. He was an amiable host,to be sure,but we'd really chew things over when we sat down to eat.
He told me of Tommy Heinrich,the plucky Yankee outfielder who had pounded his mitt at a long fly ball causing the oppposition player to "tag up".
Tommy tok the carom off the wall,having realized he couldn't catch it and pegged the ball home in time to catch the feckless fellow on the visitors easily
And Ryne Duran,the pitcher with coke bottles for eye glasses,whose Nolan Ryanesque fastballs were even more effective when his warmup pitches eometimes sailed ten feet over the catchers head.Even umpires bewared,if I may coin a phrase. Dad was of the opinion that some of this was for the benefit of the oppposition,unlike the mighty Koufax ,who he had seen in Brooklyn. Koufax couldn't find the plate for love,or money,and no matter how fast a guy throws,if the batter knows he just has to stand there,well,it ain't happening.Sandy Koufax,of course is now in the Hall of Fame,having found control as well as a wicked curve.But we didn't dwell on "The Bums",who had up and left us for sunnier climes.
We didn't of course just talk sports,our conversations could range from the philisophical.or timely,or anything really. Once he briefly related a case,not sure whether it was his,or he just wanted my informed input. A tribe of Indians(Native Americans,but not then) had sued an oil company for drilling on their land..the court case ha gone on for something llike seventy-five years,or more,with the oil Company having to pay the NAs for oil,and maybe damages..but,that was not the nub of the matter..that being,how should the lawyers split up their hefty fee? "why evenly!" I said,if a fellow worked he should share in the windfall..still not the nub,evidently.
What about all those lawyers,many now dead,who had also toiled in the vineyards?
I would only paid the guys still alive,like Huck Finn I didn't take much stock in dead people. I think he started to inform me of the perhaps just claim of the estate,the families,but if anything I was MORE staunch-those people had never worked the case at all!
My dads huge belly laugh now interrupted my legal tutorial.Somehow he had that wonderful charismatic gift to make me laugh,too. Still,paying dead guys was silly enough,but some free loading heirs.."AS ye work so shall ye eat",which is either Karl Marx,or St Paul.Not too sure.
I remember just a short time later,he asked me to accompany him to choose the over head light fixtures to be used in our soon to be constructed attic bedrooms.
I was loathe to do it,as I told him,I didn't know a thing about this,wasn't even sure what he referred to..he laughed,and asked me again. I had an oblique,farfetched idea that he just might LIKE me being there,as dubious as that sounded.I had never doubted that he did,but I didn't see my contribution ,fixture wise,just as my legal knowledge was more than a little suspect.
I am grateful for the chance to honor my Father,today,as sad as that event is. I would apologize for the lackluster tribute,but i knew from the outset that no words would suffice
I also know that he always encouraged my efforts,and that he really would have liked it.
,maybe even is..and although I prepare my bacon and toast much less crispy,we''ll still be very happy to commune again someday. Maybe the "Goodguys" will still be on!
He was a big man in every way,and though I never got past 6'2 ,he was big in love generosity,but also good spirits,and humor..he was the funniest person I've ever known,and thats going some.
I used to be an early riser,and would have breakfasts with him. We were secret sharers in this ritual,this father son communion.The WMCA "Goodguys" were always on,slightly muted,providing a backdrop to the warm ambience;My father always made toast in the broiler giving the kitchen an amiable warmth.
"We're first on your diiiiial",the "Goodguys would sing,merrily.."How ya doing,CJ,ol fella,old boy..he had a half dozen such nicknames,it was a greeting part of the ritual.
I just smiled,glad to be there." How do you want your toast"
In truth it only came in semi burned,but details are important. My egg was to be "once over easy",my bacon less crispy,again,something to be hoped for,rather than received. My Dad would start talking as he turned the sizzling bacon,and eggs and flipped over the toast with a fork. He was an amiable host,to be sure,but we'd really chew things over when we sat down to eat.
He told me of Tommy Heinrich,the plucky Yankee outfielder who had pounded his mitt at a long fly ball causing the oppposition player to "tag up".
Tommy tok the carom off the wall,having realized he couldn't catch it and pegged the ball home in time to catch the feckless fellow on the visitors easily
And Ryne Duran,the pitcher with coke bottles for eye glasses,whose Nolan Ryanesque fastballs were even more effective when his warmup pitches eometimes sailed ten feet over the catchers head.Even umpires bewared,if I may coin a phrase. Dad was of the opinion that some of this was for the benefit of the oppposition,unlike the mighty Koufax ,who he had seen in Brooklyn. Koufax couldn't find the plate for love,or money,and no matter how fast a guy throws,if the batter knows he just has to stand there,well,it ain't happening.Sandy Koufax,of course is now in the Hall of Fame,having found control as well as a wicked curve.But we didn't dwell on "The Bums",who had up and left us for sunnier climes.
We didn't of course just talk sports,our conversations could range from the philisophical.or timely,or anything really. Once he briefly related a case,not sure whether it was his,or he just wanted my informed input. A tribe of Indians(Native Americans,but not then) had sued an oil company for drilling on their land..the court case ha gone on for something llike seventy-five years,or more,with the oil Company having to pay the NAs for oil,and maybe damages..but,that was not the nub of the matter..that being,how should the lawyers split up their hefty fee? "why evenly!" I said,if a fellow worked he should share in the windfall..still not the nub,evidently.
What about all those lawyers,many now dead,who had also toiled in the vineyards?
I would only paid the guys still alive,like Huck Finn I didn't take much stock in dead people. I think he started to inform me of the perhaps just claim of the estate,the families,but if anything I was MORE staunch-those people had never worked the case at all!
My dads huge belly laugh now interrupted my legal tutorial.Somehow he had that wonderful charismatic gift to make me laugh,too. Still,paying dead guys was silly enough,but some free loading heirs.."AS ye work so shall ye eat",which is either Karl Marx,or St Paul.Not too sure.
I remember just a short time later,he asked me to accompany him to choose the over head light fixtures to be used in our soon to be constructed attic bedrooms.
I was loathe to do it,as I told him,I didn't know a thing about this,wasn't even sure what he referred to..he laughed,and asked me again. I had an oblique,farfetched idea that he just might LIKE me being there,as dubious as that sounded.I had never doubted that he did,but I didn't see my contribution ,fixture wise,just as my legal knowledge was more than a little suspect.
I am grateful for the chance to honor my Father,today,as sad as that event is. I would apologize for the lackluster tribute,but i knew from the outset that no words would suffice
I also know that he always encouraged my efforts,and that he really would have liked it.
,maybe even is..and although I prepare my bacon and toast much less crispy,we''ll still be very happy to commune again someday. Maybe the "Goodguys" will still be on!
