Guys and gals, I’m sorry I’ve been out of commission for a bit (thanks to everyone that has covered for me). My father, who is the sole reason why my Braves fandom is a full on obsession, is on his last leg. He was diagnosed with non-alcoholic cirrhosis 4 months back and it’s advanced to the point where they’ve taken him off of all his prescribed meds. He’s now on a morphine drip to ease his passing. Once again, I’ll be taking the 5 hour drive to be with him during his last hours, which means I will likely not be able to do the game thread tomorrow, Saturday, or Sunday.
My father, “JoJo”, used to own a restaurant in the Gadsden Mall in the 80s called the Big Top Sandwich Shop. It was there that my obsession for the Braves started, as once a year, Braves players would come to the mall to sign autographs for all the dewey eyed kids, and we got to know Rick Mahler on a first name basis.
However, that wasn’t the holy grail at the Mall. Every month, from my age of 7 to 11, the Gadsden Mall would host an all out frenzy baseball card show where young kids could gamble by rolling 4 dice and win the card of the numbers shown. One time, I rolled a 5 (three 1’s and 1 two) and won a Larry Bird rookie card. It was the greatest thing that happened in my childhood as, once every month for 5 years, my friends came to hang out with me to galavant around the card show seeking riches. Looking back at it, I realize how lucky of a boy I was to have that experience.
My dad wasn’t just a small business owner. He also worked a full time job as a switchman for CSX railroad, taught a Sunday School Class for 40 years, collected and sold scrap metal from the railyards, was the National Softball Association Regional Director (over 5 states), and coached my sister’s softball team which went on to win 3 national championships. My dad was a hustler, loved odd jobs to grab a few extra bucks, but most of all, my dad will go down as one of the greatest men to ever live in the city of Glencoe.
Braves Lineup
For My Dad.
Blessings, sir.
Here’s to you & your dad, Ryan.
You already know you have my sympathies. Having just come through this, I can tell you that there is another side. I’m 12 days out, and it’s still pretty raw, but better. Wishing you and your dad peace.
Thanks for sharing, Ryan. What a wonderful man and a great father! . Our hearts are with you and your family.
God be with you, Ryan.
Love it, Ryan! Thanks for sharing my guy, praying for you and yours.