Dad Post #1

I'm sitting here watching the NBA Finals Game 4 with my Dad, and thinking about basketball. Ever since I got into it, Dad has always been a fan. High school basketball is what really pumped him up. Volunteering for the Top 28 for four years, he's done more for high school basketball than most. I remember he would always tell me the scoop of the teams in the Sunkist Shootout, as if I cared as much as he did. He would tell me what his work schedule was, what games he would be able to see, what teams were a can't miss, and why he chose to be team host of a certain team. He would love to tell me about the types of food in the Coach's lounge, what other coaches were saying, and tell me about the different teams. He always fantasized about going to the late-night coaches party at the Hilton, but never decided to. He-he. Out of his league.

One of my best childhood memories as a kid was going to the UL basketball games with Dad, especially the Saturday night ones, and getting to go to Taco Bell afterwards. From Dad, "I remember you would always ask for the $3 Nachos at the game, and I would say, 'If you don't buy those nachos, I'll take you to Taco Bell after,'" and I would always accept the deal. What he didn't realize was that I would buy way more than $3 worth of food when we would go there.

It's really sad to see Dad leaving our family, he's been such a critical member. He's financially held us together, through working about 50 hours per week at Wal-Mart as a pharmacist both in New Iberia and as a manager in Abbeville. He was such a hard worker from an older generation. He was also the driver on all our family vacations, which were more numerous to mention. He always had this practicality to him, a man who valued hard work, conservative stances, and keeping the lawn mowed and the cars cleaned. He was always the person I put down as my "emergency contact" for any form needing filling, since his cool and calm demeanor I knew would always pull through. There were certain things that I called on him for, he was my man. Directions, recipe for Gumbo, practical questions (like stuff about moving, which job to get for the summer etc), but most importantly, I knew I could always count on him to go above and beyond to help me out. He was the type that would not consider it insane to get off work at 7pm, drive up to New Orleans to bring me something that I really needed, and then drive back, you know, because he had work the next day. There were countless offers to do these type of ridiculous things for me, and that was just the man he was. A man of actions. A man of simple pleasures (like his daily reading and Cup of Joe at CeCe's, snowcones while he was sick, or the subway sandwich he always got). He always helped me move each year from the dormitories, and made sure I had everything I needed when I was in town from college.

I think Dad just loved his kids and his family more than anything else. And that's why he didn't care what he was asked, he just wanted to help any way he could. It's like he really had nothing else going on. Any time I asked him a favor, he could do it. Any time I needed something annoying done, like taking something to the bank for me, it was Dad that I asked. His presence will certainly be missed in this family.