Father's Day run with PhilE and E

My Dad Phil, died last week. He's always been known as PhilE (phillie). It's a very challenging time but my family is getting through to whatever the new normal is. And it's Father's Day.

I'm here in CA just for the week before heading back to MI for the funeral. I did my first half-marathon this morning and it went really well and in my heart I dedicated my run to PhilE. There were some headwinds that I'm unsure who to blame upon, but in every moment of tailwind that pushed me along, I thought of my Dad there with me, and I thought about he and Eileen arguing about what my pace should be. They are everywhere.

thanks to Scott and Tim for encouraging me.

The start and finish was at the Craneway Pavilion over in Richmond and I couldn't help but remember having an amazing evening there with my Dad back in the spring of 2010. My Mom and Dad had finally made the long journey out to CA at me and Eileen's urging. We all had a super time and the entire visit goes down as one of my favorite things.

The visit coincided with the ToyStory3 wrap party, so I asked my Dad to pack his tux and I took him to the party while the girls stayed home. I'm so happy I was able to share that night with my Dad. I recall how I looked the hero as I completely lucked out and got primo parking spots both at the screening, and then later at the Craneway where the big party commenced. PhilE was always so very proud of me, to an almost embarrassing degree honestly, and that night was no exception. He loved chatting with my friends and I'm so happy now that some of them got the chance to meet him. He loved taking it all in, it was such a spectacle!

A couple great stories of the night: The party was HUGE and overwhelming. Food, music, lights, the whole enchilada. I stuck close to Dad but at one point I lost him! I looked everywhere...not really panicking, but a little apprehensive about what kind of trouble he was getting himself into. After a bit of a search, I found him hanging in the backstage area by the band, keeping his eye on the drummer. Of course!! I watched for a bit from afar and he scooted himself closer. Then closer. When he was tantalizingly close to the stage I scooted over to join him, but not before snapping this photo. That's my Dad...taking it all in:

And that story reminds me of another great one: 1977. Duluth MN. My first concert- KISS at the Duluth Arena. PhilE brought us all up to the show (not trivial considering home is 120miles east). I hung close to Dad, and in typical fashion he was more interested in the backstage goings-on than front-of-house. We grabbed seats directly behind Peter Criss' kit and enjoyed the show. After Peter's (very 70's-style) drum solo, my Dad leaned over to me and said quietly, "I could do that..".  GOLD!

Back at the Craneway in 2010, a touching story was when I lost sight of PhilE again. I looked everywhere before I found him in the dessert line. He was preparing a plate for my Mom, because he was so taken by all the wonderful desserts and (for some reason) he was especially drawn to the little bamboo plates that were offered and wanted to show Mom. That man was so fucking sweet, all the time. And he was always so sweet on my Mom, without fail.

As the days go by, I have been thinking about how I am cut from the same cloth. How I have so many of my Dad's traits in me. I'm so lucky to be his son.