Starting on Friday, as we said goodbye for the weekend, I heard a lot of “have a happy father’s day”. I naturally said Thank you. As I began to drive home I started thinking about father’s day and what it means. I have been a father for over 15 years now and as it approaches and we begin to make plans, I said often “It’s my day I should be able to do what I want to do”.   I am reminded that I have a family and that spending time with my children is what father’s day is all about. I get that and for my children it’s about spending time with their father.

Father’s day is not about me the Father! It’s about being a son and honoring and spending time with your father. For the past 11 fathers day that means taking a trip to St. Charles Cemetery and looking at a black rock with my Dad’s name on it. On October 22, 2003, my Dad took his last breath. So father’s day has become a sad one for me. Yes I get to see my family and my children and it’s all very nice. But what would really awesome is to spend the day with my Dad. We used to have day trips to Atlantic City. I remember our last trip in August of 2003; the Borgata just opened and I lost my bankroll pretty quickly. My brother Heinz, my friend Steve, and my Dad sat at a bar in the Tropicana joking how we have had hundreds of trips down here and we shall have hundreds more. But we didn’t, it was the last one.

My Dad was tough, we always did agree and sometimes argued. However, when I left his hospital room on October 21, 2003, I knew that was the last time I was going to see him. My wife yelled at me when I got home that night for saying it, but at 1:50am, I received the terrible call from my Mom. He was gone!

Why am I telling this story, because many of you still have your father with you. So make sure you tell him what he means to you and how much you love him, because one day he won’t be here. So today when you are at the BBQ, the Beach or on the Golf Course, have a beer with your old man and tell him:

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY DAD!!!

Mom & Dad on their Wedding Day 6-15-57

Dad and my Nephew Nick

Dad & my Brother Heinz sharing a Beer

Dad & my Brother Heinz sharing a Cigar