Real Fathers
Long ago, my husband Tom, attended the first ever Mariner Fantasy camp—a weeklong immersion into the life of a pro baseball player. It came complete with official uniforms, jacket, and name-emblazoned embroidered jerseys. He got to be coached by some stellar former players.
The following summer, the Fantasy team was invited to attend an official Mariner game—in uniform. Before the real game started they had their own game on the field, one final fantasy hurrah.
Afterwards, we took our seats in the stands. That’s when it started.
First one kid, then another, and another asked Tom for his autograph. Soon he was signing baseballs, programs, shirts, and hats.
He tried explaining he wasn’t a “real” Mariner....but he did look pretty authentic. We laughingly accused him of impersonating a player.
But one thing Tom never impersonated, was being a real father. When he was young, he may have fantasized about being a famous baseball player, but he left fantasies behind when he became a dad. He was faithful, honorable, loyal, dependable, and the one who could always stay up late to talk.
Whatever time it cost, whatever sacrifices or challenges that might come, he wanted to be a great dad. And he was. And is. I salute him and all the dads who work incredibly hard, and sometimes set aside their own dreams and fantasies to help their kids discover their own.
