I’ve been staring at a blank page for 15 minutes now. That’s because there’s no way on Earth I can express my feelings toward my father in a few hundred words.
But, I’m going to try.
Father’s Day weekend is upon us, and even though I saw mine a few weeks ago, I can’t wait to see him Sunday. I always get like that, what can I say?
In a perfect world, our fathers are responsible, strong, and, simply, there for you. I can’t think of words that better describe my father, Ted Barrett.
And before I get into all that, let me tell you about my best friend.
He grew up with his friends and family. Whether it was outside on the pond, or in his mother’s kitchen, he’d brighten everyone’s day.
Whenever I hear stories about him as a child, he reminds me of Opie from “The Andy Griffith Show.” As in, a troublemaker with the biggest heart out there, you know?
He then became the best football player at his high school, with 1,457 rushing yards in one season. Broadcasters used to say if he got past the line of scrimmage, forget about it, as he also ran the 100-meter in 10.7 seconds.
My favorite part of his football journey, however, isn’t that he became a starting running back and kick returner at UMass Amherst, but rather, how he celebrated his touchdowns.
He tossed the ball to the official, or gave it to one of his offensive linemen to spike in the endzone. “Act like you’ve been there before,” he’d always tell me growing up.
He went on to have several amazing careers, and is the perfect family man for myself, my mother, Debra, and sister, Courtney. Oh, and for his dogs Sandy, Molly, and River too.
Let’s see, what else is there?
From my earliest memories, he showed me right from wrong. Treat people the way you’d like to be treated, challenge yourself in a healthy manner, and if you want to accomplish something, put your head down and do it.
He also knows when you’re down, and how to get you back up. Middle-school me was once a mess about something, and while I was in school, he left me a two-minute voicemail about how I was right where I needed to be.
There was another day in my life when he knew I needed a smile. What did he do? He drove 90 minutes with one of the dogs and spent the afternoon with me in my apartment.
I remember feeling surprised for about two seconds before realizing: It’s just classic Dad.
You’re strong, wise, tough, fearless, and my ultimate inspiration. I could go all day, but I also can’t take up the whole paper.
I’ll leave you with something you wrote to me once. I’d explain how much I love you, but I can’t, because it’s only a feeling I know.
Dad, Happy Father’s Day.
