A Super Bowl for My Dad

I have been a Kansas City Chiefs fan since childhood. My parents loved both Chiefs football and Royals baseball, and that love spilled over into most of their children (my sister Lorna detested ALL sports).

Yesterday the Chiefs won the AFC championship to make it to the Super Bowl for the first time in 50 years. I had tears. Tears of excitement, tears of joy..and tears for my dad.

I can just picture the big grin on my dad’s face upon learning that his beloved team will be playing in the Super Bowl . Heck, knowing my dad he probably would have been doing some kind of silly dance- if you knew him, you’ll understand that.

I also had tears because it brought back the distinct memory of the very last real conversation I had with my dad.

My father had lung cancer, which metastasized to his brain. He spent his last few months in a nursing home, where we went to visit him daily. After all treatment options were exhausted, he was placed on hospice.

Dad was sharp, and he knew what was happening. I believe it was late December 2010 when we found out the Chiefs had made it to the playoffs.  I was alone in the room as I had stopped by to visit on my lunch break from work. Dad and I had a long conversation about our Chiefs. He was so happy and hoped, as he did every year, that “this would be their year”. He wanted to watch that playoff game.

I helped dad put some Carmex lip balm on his very dry lips, and then he shocked me. He said “Thank you. I love you.”   

I always knew my parents loved me. They showed me daily, in every single thing they did. He was the best father anybody could ask for, as was my mom. This was the first time that my dad ever told me he loved me.

I didn’t make a big deal out of his words that day (outwardly).  “I love you too, dad”, I said as I left to get back to work.

My dad didn’t get to see that playoff game, as he slipped into unconsciousness before it could happen, and never awoke. I joked that maybe he was just saving himself from witnessing the horrible loss they endured. 🙂

I like to think that my dad was there yesterday. He was there in my living room watching his adult grandsons whooping and hollering. He was there when  his youngest grandson was yelling from the bedroom and banging on the walls.  He was there at my sister’s house watching with her and her husband. He was there at Arrowhead stadium with my brother and nephew screaming with excitement. He was there.

Whether our team wins or loses at the big game (and I definitely hope they win), we finally made it back. This Super Bowl is for you, Keith Holmes, and all of the other die hard fans that didn’t make it to see this day.  

Go Chiefs!!