My Father's day.

Once again another Father's day passes. Today is a day for honoring Dad for all his hard work, and (for most of us) just being around. I'm sad these days to hear people talk about how their fathers were never around, or worse, were abusive and not deserving of any kind of Fathers Day cheer. I'm one of the lucky ones. The only thing my father was ever guilty of with me was having high hopes and pushing extra hard for me to be someone. Just like my birthdays, everyday is Fathers Day for my family, because we are so tight. Since we've always been a family business, I've always been around both my parents. My fondest memory took place when I was young, maybe twelve years old. I was the biggest Michael Jackson fan when I was a kid as was most of America then. The Jackson's were touring and were going to be at Dodger Stadium at Chavez ravine. I mentioned to my dad that I wanted to go, and for some odd reason after school, he decided to take me. We did not have any tickets, and it was raining to which my dad said, "Maybe we'll get lucky and find tickets once the rain stops." I thought maybe Michael Jackson him self will hold an umbrella over our heads while he danced too. So we get to the stadium, and sure enough, there are scalpers standing in the pouring rain selling tickets! My dad pulls up to girl selling tickets and tells her to get in the car out of the rain. She's selling two floor seats, for $60 total! (I suppose back then that was a a lot of money, so my dad took his time with the offer). My dad said, "I'll give you $40 for the both," to which the girl agreed upon. She got out and we made our way to the show.

We'd only been to the stadium for Dodger games, so we were familiar with the stadium, figuring we'd be in the stands. The ushers start directing us to other ushers and finally we make our way towards the stage area. I'm thinking even then that we're awfully close to the stage for what we paid. The usher then points to two seats that are six rows from the stage, slightly left center. "Here you are," said the usher, "these are your seats." I could not believe it! We not only decided to come to the Jackson's concert at the last minute, but were now six rows back from the stage. I could not believe what my dad just pulled off. I knew right then and there, I wanted to be just like that when I grew up.

The concert started and it continued to rain harder the entire night. As the lights went out, and the hit song "Torture" started blaring, the entire stadium was on its feet. People were cheering, crying, dancing, and screaming. I was standing on a chair the entire night because the floor level never sat down once. There I was watching the most famous family in show business, with the most famous performer in the world, dancing and singing and doing what he does best. And I was looking the entire night, at the man next to me, in his fifties dancing; the man that didn't even like to sweat so not to ruin his suits, was now dancing in the rain, and enjoying himself. I was watching this man that decided to take me to a concert we did not have tickets to, on a night we wouldn't normally be out on, to a place he wouldn't regularly be at in the middle of the night. That man is my dad, and I think of him ever day since we lost him 11 years ago. If you still have your father in your life, hug him today. If you don't, remember him and tell someone a story about the two of you. Happy Father's Day, we still love you and miss you very much.