My most memorable moment with my dad was at a softball game while I was in high school. My dad has always been a "yeller and a screamer" so it did not matter whether my team won or lost, my dad was sure to have been yelling during the game. This particular game was the finals of the State Championship.
My parents never missed a game so I knew there was no way around the embarrassment of listening to dad scream, especially at the biggest game a high school athlete can play in. And that he did. In fact, he screamed so loudly he could barely whisper as he was handing me my gold medal after the game.
You see, my dad was the superintendent of the school I attended so he and the principal were in charge of the post-game medal distribution. After a very fun and hard-fought game, a full team dogpile on 3rd base, and even a home run, the absolute best part of my day was as my father put my gold medal around my neck, wrapped his arms around me in a bearhug, and hoarsely whispered "I'm so very proud of you and I love you!"
Dennis Klugh of Fort Cobb, Okla., at a family event.
At that moment, I cared more about how much I'd been able to make my dad happy than about anything else. I thought of the countless hours he'd put in playing catch with me, pitching to me, and hitting grounders to me. I thought of all my teams he'd coached, and each time how I had wished he didn't.
I thought of all the times I'd said, "I hate you!" when he was "critiquing" my play. Then, I thought of how he had more to do with the success of our team than probably any other person at that game and I simply said back "Thanks Dad, for everything, and I love you too!".
My dad had a stroke this past week and may never be able to play catch with me, my brother and sisters, or my kids ever again. He may never be able to pitch to us or hit us grounders again either.
But he will always be the reason we all love the game of baseball (and softball) and the reason we give our best at each and every thing we do! I love you, Dad. Now it's your turn to work hard and get better each day! I may just have to yell at you a few times, but don't worry I won't do or say anything you didn't do to me :-).
By Amber Willits
