Happy Birthday Dad!
As I mentioned in a post I'd written a few years ago, 'Catch 42', my dad and I have made a habit in the past few years of pulling out a baseball and mitts and playing a game of catch. This has been a terrific way to for us to connect, talk about the grand kids, the farm I grew up on - which he still owns and operates with my brother, and to reminisce about times past. I really love those opportunities.
One thing I also mentioned in that old post was the fact that I still have my baseball glove from when I played Little League ball. I bring that and another glove with me when we play catch together. I won that glove for selling the most candy in a team fundraiser and it's one of my most prized possessions to this day. My dad was an integral part of my selling that candy, having 'asked' a lot of vendors visiting the farm if they wanted to buy some candy from his kid. Of course they said yes.
That was 34 years ago, but it seems like yesterday.
Growing up on the family farm my dad was always busy, but we knew he loved us and would do terrific things for us, like making sure his son won a baseball glove. Dad is an terrific guy who, not surprisingly, is admired by everyone who knows him. And he is also a man who I admire and love dearly. So, of course, for his 70th birthday I wanted to give him a gift that meant something.
As you might have guessed by now, my dad received a brand new baseball glove of his own from us for his big day. A fine piece of leather stitched together by the Rawlings Co. Along with a baseball signed by Mrs. LIAYF, myself, and the kids too.
"I haven't had a glove since I was a kid!" he said as he slipped it on, smiling, and began to pound his opposite fist into its palm. You could tell that he was genuinely touched.
Mission Accomplished.
Grandma and Grandpa are visiting this weekend. If the weather holds, I'm hoping my dad, Lukas, and I can get in a game of catch, and we can help him break in that glove.
After all, Spring is coming...and we have some catching up to do.
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4 comments:
what a great gift! And a great looking glove. I see this post, and I see Ray and his Dad having a catch in Field of Dreams. Well-done, sir.
Sweet. It will be interesting to see what Lucas has to share with his kids when you get to be your dad's age.
Love the post. The whole pace of this reminds me of baseball. Nicely meanders along with a satisfying conclusion. Anyway, it's such a cool idea to continue to have those baseball catches while you catch up on things.
I'm sure your father appreciates that gift because of what the catch means between the two of you.
I remember playing baseball during my childhood. Your blog makes me wonder what I ever did with my gloves.
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