My Dad, the Not KU or Sox fan.
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My dad passed away this morning. He was 94, dementia is an awful beast transforming kind and caring people into, in Dad's case, a difficult and demanding human all while requiring the kind of care you'd give a toddler.
Dad was not a baseball fan, not a sports fan. I'm kind of jealous as I think of all of the ups and downs of being a fan. But somehow I became a fan. And so in the summer of 72 dad took my 8 year old self to a Yankees game in the house that Ruth built. And in 73 he took me to several Mets games in an exciting year to be a Mets fan. And in 75, this man who was probably bored stiff took me to a Mets game and watched Joe Torre ground into 4 double plays. Illinois Bell wanted my dad back from ATT where he was an engineer and so we moved to Downers Grove. And this non sports fan took me to a Sox game and we saw an entertaining game in which a fan threw a lit M-80 out of the seats behind Bobby Bonds who was already wearing a batting helmet in the outfield because of the fans.
When I matriculated at KU I had the fortune of being in town for the Larry Brown years. April 4, 1988 I get a call from my dad saying Go KU. He told me he'd had a KU pin and was going to wear it to work that day. I'm sure if you'd ask him about that game a few months later he would have not known that it even happened.
Enter adulthood and now I took him to a game, first time for him in New Comiskey and the only memorable thing was watching a fire in the projects across the expressway. I think that was the last game he went to all the way back in 91.
He was a father who didn't really like baseball who cared enough to help develop my passion for the game. Just thought you'd like to know a little about my dad.
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My heartfelt condolences to you and your family
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@wissox83 I'm sorry for your loss, brother. 94 is a good long time, but it doesn't lessen the blow much. It says a great deal about his character that, while he wasn't necessarily a sports fan, he recognized that it was important to you and took you to all those games.
My son is like that. He doesn't give a rip about sports, but he knows I'm a fanatic so in conversation when I say anything about a KU or Chiefs football game or Royals (I don't even try for basketball tickets anymore) he's the first one to say "Let's do it!" And we've gone to several games and he really seems to enjoy it. I think he's a very good actor. But it's a trait of his that I really admire. Sounds like him and your dad were kindred spirits.
My prayers go out to you and your family.
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@wissox83 sorry to hear. Very much in the same boat with my mom and dementia. Spent the day with her yesterday and this is probably the last time I will see her. She is 84, and spent most of the day sleeping and drifting in and out of consciousness. Yesterday was my parents 62nd wedding anniversary. My mom was always a very anxious woman, and seemed more comfortable loving from afar. She relished the details of things she observed, took joy in them, and was very creative. Unfortunately, her creativity turned into hallucinations and fears at the end. But i remember the best of her, the beautiful observations she penned on countless postcards. Be strong my friend. We are all in this together.
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So sorry for your loss. 94 is a great life! Glad you had him around this long.
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Hope you still get a few more visits and moments to spend with your mom.
As someone who lost his mom way too soon and without a chance to say goodbye I hope you get that opportunity or have had the chance to do so! Dementia is a terrible way to see your loved ones go
