I think I have a right to be emotional lately. Or maybe I don't. But regardless, I'm giving myself a free pass today. My Dad left for Cincinnati to teach at the University and work on his book. I posted this photo on instagram along with the photo below to my personal Facebook. For those that didn't know, they thought my parents are getting a divorce. So as a big disclaimer, no, they are not! My Mom is staying here and working on her book (it's about Dallas, so staying here is imperative), so she'll go up there or he'll come to Dallas occasionally. But it will be hard. I get teary eyed thinking about it.
My whole life, my Dad has taught me the importance of what it means to be a Yankees fan. Yes he's always been a baseball fan, but Yankee fans are in our blood. No one in my family is actually from New York (they're actually from Louisiana) it's just part of the family heritage. It's an interesting parallel (and I love drawing life parallels) that Jeter's final season is coinciding with my Dad's move to Cincinnati. It's as if a chapter is ending and a new one beginning.
I don't care what you say about the Yankees, Derek Jeter is a class act. A couple weeks ago, Jeter was in Dallas and former President George Bush surprised the crowd, and Jeter himself, when he emerged from the dugout and handed Jeter a plaque. The plaque was from when Jeter famously coached Bush on how to throw the perfect pitch, “Throw from the mound and don’t bounce it because they’ll boo you.”
Watching the clip I cried. Not like one tear rolling down my face, but massive amounts of tears streaming.
Change is so hard. It's hard for everyone, but I hate it. I've always been this way. I think that's why I have a hard time getting older, it means something in my life will change. I know change is good. I can appreciate that. But I tend to like things the way they are. I have never been this far away from my Dad for this length of time. Ever. But hopefully it will teach me something. What that something is, I'm not sure yet. But you can bet I'll do my best to figure that out.
To end today's post I'm ending it with my Dad's all time favorite quote:
A man may kiss his wife goodbye,
A bee may kiss the butterfly,
The sparkling wine may kiss the glass,
But you, Dad, have all the class.
Now kick some ass and finish that book.
