Yes, I’ve written about my father previously, but this beautiful breezy brisk Autumn Day reminds me of time spent with my dad.

We rarely filled the room with long conversation, but we shared a love of sport and in the fall that meant football.  Dad would settle into his easy chair, I in my spot on the sofa.  He would have a cold beer with a sandwich or slice of pizza from a local shop and I would pair my food with an icy soda.

Dad graduated from Ohio State (as did my sister) and would root for the buckeyes.  I enjoyed seeing them do well if only to support dad and my sis, but I wasn’t as big a fan as dad whose blood flowed scarlet.  His fandom, however, paled in comparison to others my sister knew within the Ohio State community.  My sister’s acquaintance, who dared to marry on a Saturday during the season, expected participants to track the game during the ceremony via electronic devices.  Extreme, you bet, but that is college football.

As much crazy as revolves around that Columbus town during those football days, dad and I really only wanted a good game no matter who was taking the field.  Dad would dose off every so often when in the arms of his comfortable chair, but he wouldn’t rest for long as an impassioned call from announcer or cheer from the crowd would awaken him.  Those in attendance weren’t the only revelers—we would let out our own roars when greeted with spectacular catch, kick, pick, or run.

It makes me smile when I think, after having seen so many similarly amazing plays, that we would react as if it was the first time we had seen one, but that is the fun thing about sharing a moment in sport.  Maybe it goes back to childhood when playing in vacant field with friends recording our own highlights, I don’t know.  What I do know is I miss those days hanging with dad.  When I moved away from home and the years progressed, it made it difficult to spend much time together.  Sure, we would talk on the phone and ask,” Did you see that” but it wasn’t the same as sitting side by side enjoying our simple meal experiencing the moment together.  These cool fall days remind me of our father and son celebrations that at the time I took for granted.  Maybe ESPN has a channel broadcast in heaven, and maybe there are easy chairs just made for dads with a cold one within arm’s reach.