Monday, December 31, 2018

University of Maryland 1952 Sugar Bowl Champion Football Jersy

This is my dad's old jersey. He played in and won the 1952 Sugar Bowl! They went undefeated.
This jersey is 67 years old. I remember wearing it when I was kid and thought I would never be big enough to wear it right. It has a tail that wraps under between your legs and buttons to the front to keep it tucked in and make it hard to grab onto. After this selfie I went out into the living room and my 13 year old daughter said she loved it. Said she would steal it someday and of course told her she wouldn't have to, but I'm not ready to give it up just yet. She asked how did grandpa ever put pads under it and I shared her old man is 40 pounds bigger than her grandfather was back then.
Putting it on felt really good. Can't remember the last time I wore it. Maybe 20 years ago I dry-cleaned it with his letter jacket and letter sweater and they have been in my closet under plastic ever since. I'll share those too soon, but for now I need to join my wife and daughter in a new years eve domino game to ring out 2018 with style!


Sunday, December 16, 2018

Dear Dad

I am feeling a little down tonight. Writing to you always seems to help me figure things out a bit. Kind of a little mental pick me up. Hope it works because not really sure what's wrong with me. Life is good. That's why I'm miffed about feeling so down. Guess I was riding pretty high after writing your book and now what I'm working on is falling apart. Seems like everything I do lately is C+ at best and I'm already starting to hear you in the back of my mind. "Good grades aren't everything Biddy-buddy. Trying to get good grades is what matters." God knows I tried. Guess I'm trying still. I saw a Lombardy quote the other day and totally thought of you, "Winning isn't everything. The desire to win is." I guess it's that desire to do something great that keeps me dissatisfied with my current performance. I really want to accomplish some extraordinary things in my life and right now I'm a good dad, ok husband, average in my job, a joke on the golf course, a slacker in the gym, in my creative pursuits frustrated, spiritually numb, intellectually dull. Listen to me. In self deprecation I am extraordinary! Maybe I can write myself out of this funk. Maybe. I am willing to try at least. I'm still trying to get good grades. Guess that's what matters. Thanks for being here Dad. Thanks for listening.
Love,
Biddy-buddy