"May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be at your back
Yeah, that's what dear old Dad would say
Remember your old man
When you've finally had your moment
Should fame and fortune come your way
I wouldn't trade your wisdom, Dad
I thank you for your time
You said “son, keep on working 'til the stars one day align”
But maybe luck don't seem to shine
On stubborn fools like me and you
Make the most of what they give you
To yourself you must be true
To yourself you must be true
And we'll live
To fight another day
Things don't always go our way
And we'll live
To fight another day
Yeah, that's what my old man would say
May the spirits all be with you
May the Devil turn his back
When the day is at its darkest and anxiety attacks
Call on me to see you through it
Call on me to be your guide
I'll be there, son, when you need me
I'll be standing by your side
I'll be standing by your side
And we'll live
To fight another day
Things don't always go our way
And we'll live
To fight another day
Yea, that's what my old man would say
My hero, my heart
My hero, my heart
My hero, my heart
My Hero, my heart
To yourself you must be true
To yourself you must be true
And we'll live
To fight another day
Things don't always go our way
And we'll live
To fight another day
Yea, that's what my old man would say
My Hero"
- "My Hero" by The Dropkick Murphys
With Father's Day around the corner, I feel it important to shine light on the men who become our role models, our protectors, and who we carry pieces of everywhere we go. I'd also like to emphasize the importance of continuing to build great role models; and even though it is impossible, how we should be striving to be as great as our fathers.
I always wondered why, as growing kids, we want to show our dads how tough we are. Is it a biological sense of 'survival of the fittest'; maybe trying to show off – or trying to impress them by not crying after a great deal of pain? It could also be none of the above, like the one time I fell off my bike and smacked my face on our newly paved driveway. It's not that I was trying to impress Big Scotty, it's the fact I was a concussed five-year-old and incapable of doing pretty much anything in that moment, especially crying. But like all times before, and the times in the future I wouldn't know about yet, Dad was there to hoist me back up and brush off the dirt and gravel, give me a rub on the head, and back on the bike I was.
As I grow older, I notice day in and day out little parallels I carry from my father. Sometimes I stop in my tracks from whatever it is I'm doing, and think back to when I first noticed these characteristics. The days driving on those old camp roads jamming to Bruce Springsteen where he propped me on his lap to let me drive; the summer pool times where he would launch me 10 feet in the air to cannonball in the deep end; the Yankees and Mets games where he taught me the ins and outs about baseball; the times I got in trouble and he would grab me by the back of the neck collar on my shirt and carry me as I was running in air trying to escape (For those who don't know, my dad is 6'3", 240 lbs; lifting me up as a little guy was like a lion who carries their cub in its mouth). The helpfulness, the strength, the knowledge: I notice it all.
The most miraculous beings, though, are those who live and learn from their fathers through spirit. I won't even begin to pretend to understand the feeling of absence from a father, no matter the circumstance. It is you, whom I believe will be the most inspirational role models. You will be the superheroes for those you love, and be the ones your father couldn't be more proud of. The absence of anything you carry a passion for creates a drive to become it; a motivation to obtain that passion moreover. You carry their soul with you as a reminder to pass along what they gave to you in all ways possible.
Continuing the Foundation
To the current generation of young adults, whether already fathers or not, I want you to become the positive impact. We are the next ones up to help mold society. For those who may not have had a positive fatherly figure: do not be afraid to flip the script. Carry yourself with a passion to be the role model.
To all father figures: those who are here with us either in person, or through heart, soul, and spirit, I would like to wish you all a Happy Father's Day and express the most sincere 'thank you' for all you have provided.
R.I.P. Grumpy
p.s. Mothers, we love you too.
