As the calendar flips around to this Sunday and Father's Day, I'm reminded about how much my dad means to me and the special bonds that we share.
Like many sons and their dads, our connections run deep and are centred on (what else?) - sports. I know that sounds like a cliché, but many of my lasting memories and moments with my dad have a sports theme in mind.
My dad was quite the athlete in his day - and, in fact, still is.
In high school growing up in Saskatchewan, he ran track, played baseball and, in the winter, curled. He won several provincial high school championships and, a few years ago, his high school team was inducted into the Saskatchewan Curling Hall of Fame.
My dad coached and mentored me growing up in Saskatchewan on the fastball diamond. I can recall many a weekend afternoon playing catch in the back yard with my dad throwing a countless number of fly balls as I learned to catch.
I also remember many a weekend travelling with my mom to various bonspiels in the winter. The curling club became our second home, and I loved every minute of it.
It was there that our love of sports continued to grow. My dad is a huge New York Yankees fan so naturally I fell in love with the Bronx Bombers. For anyone who knows me, the Yankees are more than a love - I call it more like an obsession.
Back in 1999 I started working at the Merritt News -my first newspaper job. It was my first time away from home, first time living on my own. I worked my tail off - lots of long hours, very little time off and few chances to come back to Coquitlam to see my family. But in August of that year, I did manage to get a week away and went on my first extended road trip with my father. We drove down the I-5 through Seattle and into Oakland, Anaheim, Los Angeles and San Diego, catching six baseball games in a week. The time spent on the road talking, laughing and sharing are memories that will last a lifetime.
In Los Angeles, I caught a fly ball in the outfield. I still have that baseball today mounted on a small trophy commemorating the road trip.
Since then I have gone on many other baseball road trips. In fact, my dad and I, along with my mom, have seen almost every Major League baseball stadium. The walls of my parents' basement in their house in Coquitlam is chock full of our travel memories -and their travel memories.
In the late '90s, my dad started back playing baseball (slo-pitch) and organized a competitive travel squad called Eh Team Vancouver. This year we are celebrating our 15th anniversary. We travel every year to a tournament called the Advertising Softball World Series in the U.S. I've been on the team for 13 years, playing, coaching and managing our team website.
Several years ago, my dad was inducted into the tournament Hall of Fame. Three other teammates have followed. We've won numerous division and city titles over the years and are one of the most successful franchises in the tournament's history. We would not have had any of that success without my dad. Not only does he play on and manage this team, but he also plays on a competitive senior men's team that last year travelled to Utah for the Huntsman Games and will do so again this October.
Factor in work - he's a highly successful advertising executive for Global Television - and family - he recently became a proud grandfather as my sister gave birth to her first child last August - and I don't know how he does it all. But he does.
He has instilled in me a work ethic that has made me the person I am today. There are no words to describe what our relationship means to me.
This weekend we have a tournament with the Eh Team in Burnaby, and Sunday morning we will be on the slo-pitch field again together.
There is no place I would rather be.
