Father's Day 2008

I'm sitting here this Father's Day watching the closing minutes of Meet The Press as they do a special tribute to Tim Russert. He was a man that gave so much and he seemed like he had so much more to give. The show was hosted by good friend Tom Brokaw with a panel of close friends.

Doris Kearns Goodwin had stated it very clearly that Russert had lived a great life and in a conversation she recently had with Russert he stated, "that if he did die he had accomplished everything he wanted in his life. The only thing he wanted to see was his son get married and have Grand kids."

It's sad that a man so cherished and loved doesn't get his wish and his life ends early.

I reflect back to 1986 when my Dad was in the hospital from having a massive stroke. He had high blood pressure and didn't realize that his body was ticking time bomb that he didn't take care of.

My Dad was picking up a rent check from one of our tenants and started to stagger and the tenants called my mom and the ambulance. It was a long two days in the hospital and there was still no diagnosis. My dad was pretty much gone mentally from what the doctor's could tell. They had seen no signs of recovery and no movement on his part. He was 44 at the time, how could this happen to a man in his prime.

My mom wanted me not to see him for the first day because I was 16 and didn't think I could handle. Little did she know the strength I had and she tried to shelter that as she did with most of my childhood. It was day two and I wanted to see my dad. She prepared my visit by saying to me that my father hasn't moved in two days and is not responding. I can still hear her in my ear "David, you are going to speak to him but he will not move, you are going to see no motion and someone that cannot respond back." I was prepared for that but I didn't believe it. I wouldn't believe it.

I walked up to that hospital bed and held my dad's hand and spoke to him gently and asked how he was. He didn't respond. He didn't move. I told him how things were going in school and that I missed him and I wanted him to come home. I told him that mom said that he wasn't going to respond and I told him that he had to prove her wrong.

I remember vividly as he laid there with wires and tubes and all over this was the man who got up every morning to make me breakfast and take me to the bus stop by 6:45 AM. Never Quitting - Never Giving Up. I told him now was not the time to give up. It was time to fight. He was going to have the toughest fight of his life, but he had to do it for me and my brother Mike.

"Dad I want you to see me graduate - I want you to see me get married - Dad I want you to see your Grand kids. You can't give up, you need to come back to us. Do you understand?" He started to move his head in what i could tell was a nod and in agreement. "Dad - can you hear me?" He nodded again with greater movement and motion this time.

He reached his hand out and then squeezed mine and I cried as I kissed his hand. This was the father I knew, one who would do anything for his son.

It took him two long years of rehabilitation and perseverance and determination with the help of my mom. He came back and now twenty two years later he stops by every other Sunday to see his grand kids. His and my dream came true and he had a second chance.

I feel for Tim Russert's son who will never have that chance to have his dad play tee ball, or just go to the movies with the kids.

I am pretty lucky and I guess so is my dad (not to mention my kids)

Happy Father's Day Dad!