a thank you note

you stressed the importance of education

always adamant your kids got good grades

and how good it must have felt

when all three kids walked across that college stage

you went to all my soccer games

and besides mom, you were always my biggest fan

and when I got fouled and the refs missed a call

you would always let him know from the stands

and even when I didn’t win, you managed to find

those little teaching moments from the bleachers

you’d say, “go shake hands son, we will get them next time”

And that’s how I learned sportsmanship from my teacher

and speaking of teaching, I know I wasn’t the best student

you must have several heart attacks when you taught me how to drive

I am sorry I wrecked so many cars as a teenager

it’s probably a miracle I’m still alive

and you continue to teach me, 20 years later because you know me, I drive to fast

you pointed it out last time you visited

when you said, “how about a little more brake son, and a little less gas”

you taught me the true value of hard work

and I loved spending those summer weeks with your dad

always starting early, big grandpa had me sweating

in comparison, doing chores for you wasn’t so bad

and big grandpa had that strong, gorilla grip

more than anything he loved to work with his hands

and I understood after spending time with him

how any one person can become a man

I see where you got your work ethic from

I know you miss him everyday

so, I won’t speak much more on this

sometimes it’s more powerful in what we don’t say

you have put up with so much from me

even indulging me when I went through a wrestling phase

you let me invite my friends over for pizza & Wrestlemania

and that’s a memory that will always stay

and we loved to watched movies together

whether Rocky 4 or Lord of the Rings for the win

but when you told me you liked the Hobbit better,

I thought of never speaking to you again

this part of the thank you is hard to express,

but I must ask with confusion, and just the right words

how did you manage to teach me morality,

without ever taking me to church?

and I know what you will say,

you will say, we went once or twice

but it wasn’t G-d who taught me

the difference between wrong and right

but I am not here to discuss religion

because the Kansas City Chiefs kick-off at noon

and someone needs to send those Cowboys

right back to their old saloon

and I will never forget that Steelers playoff loss

when we lost the car and walked til’ our feet were black and blue

but it was the first game you took me to against the Redskins

that will always be, one of the best memories of my youth

and how could I forget when you literally hid your diagnosis of diabetes from me,

my goodness dad, what honestly were you thinking?

that if I knew, it might ruin the tailgate snacks and drinking?

pops, I am telling you now, if you didn’t hear me before

I love watching football, but I care about your health more

any sport of any game can wait, not listening to a doctor for football was a mistake

fast forward three years later

Patrick and Andy knew exactly what to do

scoring 21 points in the 4th quarter to beat the Niners

and finally make our Super Bowl dreams come true

but as great as the big games were,

they were only great, because of you

THANK YOU DAD, for being the best father a son could have.