9/28/24-Slurpees and Sport Cars

 

I think if a guy looks back on their life they will realize there are a few male influences that made them who they are.  I definitely have a group of guys who shaped me,  First on my list is my Dad.

Born and grew up on the east coast, my Dad was an athlete in high school, running and playing basketball.  I didn't inherit his height so basketball wasn't in my future, but I did become a runner partially because of him-but more on that later.

Vietnam was going on and my Dad always told me the story that he was probably going to be drafted, but he didn't worry too much about it because he thought he had flat feet and would be disqualified for service.  So he went to the first recruiting office he could find, which turned out to be the Navy, expecting to be medically disqualified.  Surprise, I guess his feet weren't flat enough, and he found himself in the Navy.  Because of the Navy he met my Mom, so I guess I'm only here due to the arch in his feet.  

After the Navy he started working for 7-11 and was associated with them for the rest of his life.  So that is how I will remember him.

In the late 1970's Dad made what he told me was his biggest regret.  I don't really feel like going into the specifics but it led to my parents being divorced.  Now it seems pretty commonplace, but back then we were one of the first split families.  My parents handled it well.  They were always friendly with each other, at least that's the impression we got as kids.

Work made Dad travel and move quite a bit but, Sunday's were always Dad days.  He would pick me and Amber up in his Datsun Z, Triumph TR-7 or Mazda RX-7 and we would spend the day together.  All those cars were 2 seater sport cars which meant Amber had to sit on the console between the front seats-no seatbelt there.  But the 80's were a wild time.

Usually we would go to lunch or miniature golf or maybe a movie.  Inevitably we would always end up at his office where we would get free Slurpee's from their lunch room.  I can't even imagine how many Slurpee's I drank over my childhood.  Not healthy, but the 80's were a wild time.

To kind of wrap this story up, my parents did eventually get back together and remarried.  I guess they were meant to be together.  But even on their special day they put us kids first.  I remember I was upset and they pulled me aside to make sure I was alright with them getting back together.  I told them yes. and the ceremony continued.  What I don't think I ever told them is that I was upset because I couldn't get my tie right and didn't want to ruin the day with a messed up knot.  I can't believe I almost ruined the day over something so stupid, but it means a lot to me that even on their day they were worried about me.

Unfortunately, they didn't get the chance to grow old together and my Dad died way too young at 55 while doing a triathlon with me, but that's a story for another time.

I really wish I was able to spend more time with my Dad.  And I think he would have loved to spend more time with us a well.  Still, even though our time together was limited he did a great job of impressing on me who I would become.

I become a life-long runner because he was a runner in high school.  When I decided to join the military the Navy was the branch to emulate him.  His determination to maintain a family, even though it was a disjointed one showed me how important those connections were.

He did teach me some things that I still remember to this day.  I remember him saying, "Pump your arms when you run."   He taught me to drive a stick shift and as I coasted to a stop at a light he said, "Never coast in neutral.  Always put it in gear."

The one biggest lesson came on one of our weekend trips.  We spent the day at Knott's Berry Farm.  They have a roller coaster called Montazuma's Revenge that shot you in a loop in forward than backward.  I was scared to go on it.  Dad told me:

"Don't be afraid to try anything once.  If you do something and then don't like it you never have to do it again.  But you will never know if you like it if you don't try."

I went on the roller coaster and threw up in the trash can near the exit.  But whenever I think about trying something new I still remember what he said.

This has gotten way longer than I was expecting, and  I will have to cut this off at some point.  So I leave on this thought.  My Dad was not perfect.  He made mistakes.  I think he would agree with that.  But he always tried to make amends for them and make the best of the situation he was in.  No matter what he would problem faced him he would say, "Super! (he started sentences with that all the time)."  I hope to make the best of my current situation, because that's what he would do.