So last Wednesday was my 37th birthday. Contrary to what my bloggy absence might indicate, this did not traumatize me that much. Really. I can TOTALLY handle being in my late thirties. Anyway, last Wednesday was also my dad's birthday. (Coincidentally, it was also my aunt's - though not by blood - birthday AND a family friend's. Do you know anyone born on July 2nd or is it just a popular day in my world? Just wondering.)
I've been meaning to write a birthday blog for my dad for days now, but real life (and the occasional nap) kept intruding.
My dad gave me my first real journal, sending me down a path that would eventually lead to blogging. He also introduced me to the works of J.D. Salinger, F. Scott Fitzgerald and countless mystery authors. He loves to talk about news and politics, and expected me to join in the discussions he would have with my uncles. When I was seven.
My father comes from a long line of small town doctors, which I'm pretty sure drove him into the news business. He went from college in Pittsburgh to college in New York back to college in Pittsburgh while working at a radio station in Chicago, with a lot more ease than I would have had after growing up in his small western Pennsylvania hometown. Eventually he worked in Pittsburgh again, where he met my mom. Because she was his boss. He managed to snag her anyway. He covered most of the major news events of the late '60's and early '70's, before starting his own business - which involved a new thing called video.
My dad has always been hip. Maybe it comes from being a drummer, I don't know. There was a while in college when I knew as much about cool music as he did, but that day is long past. Now I'm lucky if I've heard of his latest musical interest. My dad took me to my first concert - Bruce Springsteen's Born in the USA tour, his last night in Jersey. I was definitely the coolest thirteen year old around after that. Actually, he took me to the last concert I went to as well - the True Colors tour last year. He wanted to go because the Dresden Dolls were playing - I wanted to see '80's stalwarts like Erasure and Deborah Harry. See what I mean?
I love you, Dad.
11 comments:
He sounds wonderful.
What a cool Dad! Happy b'day to you both!
Sounds like a very cool dad. Happy birthday to you both! I've got a late July birthday, but it's a popular month in my family.
So great to have a dad like that. Mine forbade Madonna forever after my brother saw the Like a Virgin Tour.
I totally understand - my dad was the youth group advisor since I was 4, and a HS teacher until I graduated college, so it was sort of his job to know the cool stuff going on, especially in music, so I am so glad to know my dad was not the only one. Although we have some (now) embarrassing concert moments - I actually took him to one of the last NSYNC concerts for Father's Day a few years ago. But you know, we had a really freakin' good time! And my dad took me and my brother and our friends to those MTV concerts in the late 80s and early 90s. So happy birthday to your dad. (and to YOU since I did not know it was your birthday!) It's my parents anniversary, but no one else's bday in my crew.)
Whoa, wait...your birthday is July 2nd??? MINE TOO! Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to you AND your dad. We Cancers rule the world, y'know.
That is a beautiful tribute. What is it about Dads? I keep finding myself writing about mine as well... Although my Dad's music tastes and talent don't really qualify as cool - he plays the piano and has written a musical (a far cry from The Boss). But he did take me to my first concert when I was in 7th grade. Prince's Purple Rain tour. I've come full circle from desperately wanting to go, to being embarassed by my old love of Prince, to thinking I want to go back and do it again. I don't think my Dad wants to do it again. Thanks Dad.
Your Dad sounds very cool. Happy (belated) birthday to him. And you!
Happy birthday to you AND your dad. We Cancers rule the world, y'know.
So great to have a dad like that. Mine forbade Madonna forever after my brother saw the Like a Virgin Tour.
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