In honor of Father’s Day, I’m gonna tell ya a story about my dad and I guarantee it’s quite different than father-son relationships I wrote about in the track program this week. Cuz ya see… my Dad wasn’t around when I grew up. Life’s funny like that… we all get a raw deal on some things along the way. To an extent, it makes it more ironic that I’m so involved in short track racing considering the father-son relationships and family traditions are strong in our sport. Baseball is like that for me too. When I was a kid, playin’ ‘ball or hangin’ w/ my cousin Richie at the track was like heaven. Ya know, dude stuff… and polar opposite than being at home w/ mom & sister. Just great memories…
and great outlets to keep me from missin’ my dad…
or wondering where he was…
or being pissed he wasn’t around…
or… well, you get the point.
It was a roller-coaster of emotions at times…
It wasn’t until I was 24 years old that I finally met my father. All grown up, outta college by then. Better late then never, you ask?? Definitely!! My dad lived in FL so I went down to meet him and for 3 days, we reconnected. Very special times those 3 days and they definitely changed my life. Most people get a helluva lot longer than 72 hrs to spend with their dad, but in comparison to nothing, its not too shabby. It was long enough for me to not be pissed at him anymore. He was still my dad. Then, only 8 months later, my father passed away. We had several conversations over the phone in those 8 months, but I never did have a chance to see him again in person. It’s funny cuz the person responsible for reuniting us once told me beforehand (during one of my rants about how I much I didn’t like the guy) that someday I might really want to see him and he might not be there when I go looking. Thinking about that has always made those 3 days all the more precious. I’ll never forget them. Indeed, life can be too short.
There’s a special meaning to my nickname Sid as it derives from my father’s Portuguese name Fernandes and although he’s no longer here, nor do I carry his surname, I know he’d definitely dig the moniker. And although I never went to the races w/ my dad either, it’s his side of the family ironically enough that’s my link to the sport. Many times walking around the pit area I’ve realized how fortunate many of you are to spend time every week with your dad enjoying a hobby you both love. I see those connections in almost every racecar trailer at the ‘bowl. I’ll admit it, there’s part of me that’s jealous of that. You guys are lucky… cherish that time. As for my luck, the 8 months from when I met my dad in August til he passed away the following March were during the fall and winter months, therefore, I never had the chance to spend a Father’s Day with my dad. These last few years, I’ve got to spend the day before with a bunch of good people and their dads and it helped me get through it. Can’t say this is my favorite holiday and for obvious reasons, but the last few haven’t been so bad, so thanks for that!
And it’s with moments like that where my passion for short track racing lies. It’s a deep connection. It really is an extended family. Sometimes you need family to pick you up…. and as you know, sometimes your family drives you up a freakin’ wall but eventually, we’ll all get over it, hug it out if need be, and go back to enjoying the better things about the races. All this other stuff like wrecks and pit-scuffles and ownership mysteries and race directors and program peddlers are really only the guilty pleasures amidst much more wonderful things.
Ya just gotta see ’em…
Happy Father’s Day everyone!!
Sid