Lisk, you are a fantastic writer and I’m going to be glad to say that I was reading you before you were famous because that’s the trajectory you are on with your writing.

That was 7 years ago tomorrow. June 18 2005. Michael Campbell wins the Open, my son was born and lived. Not sure which was the bigger upset. He’s fine now, after me giving him CPR at least 15 times in the first 2 years. My wife and I slept in shifts so one of us was ALWAYS awake. I slept from 9pm to midnight, she slept from midnight to 6, then it was my turn again until 830. Looking back, I wouldn’t trade those nights for anything. Watching X-Files repeats on cable every night, and reading to my boy.

Every year on Father’s Day I hug him tighter, and think about how this could be the worst day in history if not for some luck. My Dad and I played 18 this morning, then came home and watched vids of the boy when we finally brought him home. I cry every year.

Happy Father’s Day, dads. Hug your kids.

Put it in the header.

I wish I could say it got easier. It doesn’t. I wish I could say that it makes sense. It doesn’t. We just have to play it as it lies, even if it didn’t turn out the way we hoped.

Nailed it, Jason. Very well written. It gets easier with time, but things pop up that bring you right back to various times, places, or circumstances, for better or worse. Actually, I’m probably the exact worst case result on this one, so I’ll just say I hope it does get easier with time.

As for Big Fish, that movie captured the spirit of my Father better than anything I’ve ever seen, read, or even written. There are still at least a dozen, or fifty, of his stories that can neither be confirmed nor denied. As I now find myself in similar surrealism, I’m left to wonder how much really was fantasy, fiction, or the likely hybrid of both.

It’s been nearly 20 years since my father passed but so much of who I am is him, he never feels far away. Driving the eastern plains in his pickup, sodas from dusty convenience stores, playing pinball in dark bars while he silently drank with his fellow vets.

And even hitting golf balls in the back yard, for hours and hours. I still don’t know why we never actually went to play golf.

Fortunate to still have my father, and with two young boys of my own, the day takes on a little more meaning.

Well done.

I’m shocked Lisk hasn’t been hired by any of SI, Fox Sports, Sporting News or ESPN yet. Wouldn’t be surprised if he’s been approached by a few of the major outlets though.