March Madness

Last year I avoided participating in the whole March Madness scene.  Each year, he and I would always align ourselves, and compete at the same time.  He was such a gracious competitor.  He would put some of my picks down, with a gentle yet dismissive, "I wouldn't go that way" or "That's a real long shot."  He was my picking partner.  And he was right there watching with me, even if we weren't in the same place.  This year, I got back in the game and almost immediately regretted it.   AU trying to beat Villanova had me picking up the phone to call him. MD puttin up a fight.  Duke going down, hard.  Michigan State.  Despite having a jacked up bracket, deep down, I know he wouldn't object to my picks, both final four and the overall winner.  Because much like everything else he repeated himself on this topic every year "the trick is to pick a winner that is possible, but not the obvious pick."  So I think he'd be okay with my Pitt pick, even though it didn't pan out.  I loved telling him about my many pools that I'd be in, and how great my picks were doing.  Now, it's not so much fun.....now it feels more like obligation and work.  But I did it, and thought of him all the way.

3/17

My dad's Irish bar was one of my favorite places to be when I was growing up.  Each year, it was understood he would not be seen before bed, because he would be at the bar all night with the St. Patrick's Day crowd.  I remember each morning of the 18th, it would be an anxious awaiting to hear just how crowded it was at the bar last night.  Funny, looking back on it, the answer was always the same, but I always was waiting to hear with such anticipation.  "It was packed solid from 4:00 until we closed" or "gadzooks, it was packed" or "it was just a constant packed crowd all night" or "oh yeah, it was the biggest one I remember."  No green beer served.....he would tell you "the Irish don't drink green beer, they just drink beer."  When he opened a new bar, closer to where we lived, we would sneak up there and peak in the window to see how crowded the bar was, and it always was.....it made me feel so proud....that's my dad's bar.  When I got older, I even got to be bartender during the lunch shift one St. Patrick's Day.  It was a life highlight.   This is a picture of my shamrock, which I love.  It always reminds me of him, his Irish, my Irish.

A Jump is Needed

My daddy saved me numerous times with my various car events.  He was my go-to guy when I stalled out, had a flat tire, a dead battery, or a service question.  Most of these times, I was overly-emotional, frustrated, and at these times he was his natural, calming self.  He always always fixed it for me.  It was after a dead battery experience that he became surprised to know that I did not have jumper cables.  When he gave them to me, I remember feeling so cared for, because it wasn't a special occasion gift, it was a "You really need to have these in your car" gift. Clearly, I could have bought them for myself, but instead he just took care of business.  They have sat in my trunk for years without being opened, until yesterday.  A friend needed a jump. Opening my trunk and seeing them there was so......comforting and sad at the same time. All I could of in my head was "thank you Daddy."    

Daylight Savings Time

While driving across town today, my clock read 2:05, and I thought that seemed off, and earlier than I had thought.  Well, of course, I had forgotten to change my car clock ahead one hour for daylight savings time.  I fixed my clock, and then could hear my dad telling me, "if you had set your alarm for 2:00 am and moved all your clocks ahead an hour you wouldn't have had this problem."  My dad loved to remind people that the time change takes place at 2:00 am, so he would joke that you had to get up to fix the time right at the switch.  He would tell this to strangers, while in line at the bank, or store.  Strangers would not know what to do with this crazy person telling them to get up at 2:00 am, instead of the obvious change of clocks before bed.  As years went on, he would leave me a message each time, and he would leave it in a very serious voice...."Yeah, hi honey, this is dad.  I know you are busy but I needed to leave you a message to remind you to set your alarm for 2:00 am, so that you can get those clocks changed to the right time."  I would always call him back to tell him how crazy he was.  For all the laughs, he really was a great reminder......now I face a far less hilarious reminder to change the clocks.