Big Shoes to Fill...

• Watching Monday Night Football w/ Howard Cosell- just till halftime
• Getting a first hit in any baseball game after getting a "real" batting glove
• Camping out at Y-Noah with the Indians' Guide troop
• Playing catch in the backyard- a lot
• Getting a B-B gun for Christmas and shooting it towards the hill- not the house!
• Getting an absolutely awesome Notre Dame letterman's jacket
• Traveling to Texas and getting outfitted with the hat/ boots before horseback riding
• Attending/ serving the 7:00 A.M. mass at St. Vincent
• Delivering the Beacon Journal bright and early on the weekends
• Holding hands tightly while getting stitches in a rather unfortuitous place
• Buying the entire softball team t-shirts for the season
• Providing ample opportunities to fine tune the art of the written composition
• Attending every single drama and musical performance during high school and cheering on a very mediocre talented kid
• Vacationing at Lapeer MI cottage ...and shooing the bat out late at night!
• Staying close by while watching Grandpa Eubank die in the hospital
• Buying much needed groceries while in college
• Coming into the bedroom late in the evening to announce that REGGIE just hit his 3rd homerun in the game! (one of New York's many World Series appearances)
• Providing the courage to take on the Blue Streak at Cedar Point
• All the awesome Christmas mornings...and all the toys pre-assembled!
• The guitar and piano lessons/ instruments- especially the 12 string Ovation for a high school graduation gift
• All the college and NFL football pennants
• Unquestioning loyalty and support through a difficult divorce
• The Rose Bowl game with Charlie White (a future #1 Browns' draft=pick bust) and the USC Trojans
• Prudent counseling, advice, and patience during driver's training
• Hosting the high school play cast parties and after Prom parties/ early breakfasts
• Companionship on the links
• Tuition...oh, the tuition for grade school, high school, and college
• Heart-felt letters during the SEARCH retreat weekends
• Cool little gifts/ gadgets from all the salesman trips
• Family dinnertime and the conversations to follow
• The incredible work ethic- always do your best...and then some
• Words of encouragement and the much needed kick in the rear for somewhat erratic grades in school- an F in junior religion at Walsh- ouch!
• Agonizing when Jose Mesa blew the World Series, Ernest Byner fumbled the ball, Elway led the drive, Jordan hit "the shot", etc...
• Attending all the Walsh football games and rooting for the team #1 ball-boy- not exactly as glamorous as the starting quarterback
• Giving the old army tent up for all-night neighborhood sleepouts- very fond memories here!

No, these aren't memories for me and Josh...but rather my dad and I. I think that every guy hopes to be able to have some awesome memories with his son, but for me, I shamefully admit that it has taken a while to be able to reflect back on my childhood and truly appreciate the sacrifices and unconditional love that my dad had and still has for me.

Happy Father's Day, Dad!