My entire life, as far back as I remember, my sisters, who are all beautifully dark haired and dark eyed, tried to convince me that I was adopted. See, I have been blonde for nearly 26 (!!!!) years, and always had the same blue eyes and curly hair of a man I admire. I have always had qualities that dispelled the lie that my sisters always tried to convince me were true, but the more I age the more I realize that I am the spitting image of my dad, and have more qualities exactly like him that I was willing to let on as a teenager. I was a young teen and my grandfather had a milestone birthday in which a childhood picture of my dad surfaced, that could have easily been my own baby picture. I was only than that I was sure that my sisters were really lying.
First, physically. I will let you decide for yourself.
I think that picture speaks for itself.
But that picture is more than just the fact that we are related. That pciture was taken last year, while my dad and I were in Florida. See, dad loves to play baseball. Baseball has been a part of my life as long as I can remember. Going to Camden Yards, watching dad play in Florida, Maryland, and other places, and watching dad collect more baseball cards that anyone else I know was all a part of my life since birth. An avid love for the sport changed a lot of things for us, and I believe that it saved his life when he was sick a few years ago. Baseball reminds me of the family that we have within the baseball community, and the people that are my greatest cheerleaders through what have been some of the hardest seasons of my life. What girl doesn’t love a text that says “Good morning beautiful. Just thinking about you and wanted to send some love your way today.” The family of people that have loved me (and my dad!) especially well are the guys that don baseball pants as often as they possibly can. Baseball has taught me the incredible love of friendship, and of the fact that people can become like your family without sharing an ounce of blood with you. The guys from baseball were an incredible support system through season of our lives that were incredibly difficult. The reason I knew my dad really did beat the odds came on a day relating to this sport: I got a text from a member of our baseball family telling me that for the first time since he was sick, dad hit a baseball and ran to first base. It might not seem like much, but for someone as close to the other side of eternity as my dad was, that was a miracle and nothing short of it. Its also probably the reason I tear up watching him play.
(There is also another human that I will likely make his own blog about in the coming weeks as well, because he deserves that much talk, so Boblooch, don’t think I left you out!!)
One passion that dad and I share is the grocery store. If you ask B, he will tell you that I am a person who looks for a reason to go. I love it. Something about food makes this girl happy. 🙂 Dad was never a big one for the grocery store, but after he got sick, I think he learned that he could get out of the house by going, and that made him one who visits more than I do. I love to talk with him about coupons, a good deal he got, or just the fact that he and Lil went to visit the grocery store. Just another reason that he and I are more similar than my 13 year old self wanted to believe.
I could write for days on why I love my dad, the similarities we share, or other things that would make this long blog even longer, but I won’t subject you to that torture.
But, on a final note, there is something worth celebrating. TOMORROW IS DAD’S BIRTHDAY. We share a birthday month, but dad never was one to make a big deal about his. But this daughter had to tell you just how much I love my dad, and how thankful I am that he got a second chance at life. Happy Birthday, Pop. Every birthday we celebrate, I remember the devastating feeling of almost losing you, and it makes me that much more happy to know we get to share this with you. It won’t surprise me to learn you are playing ball tomorrow, but I’ve got my sources to make sure that as many people know about it as possible and make sure that they sing to you because I wont be there to do it.
