“I can’t believe I’m still watching this! Can they stink any worse?
That was just another (rather mild) negative comment that one of my sons made to the TV. What I found amusing was that sentiment was exactly mine…and previously held by my dad; my boys grandfather.
We’re talking 3 generations of the Roberts’ clan – all yelling the same remarks over the years – and now decades.
For faithful readers, it’s been no secret that I was raised to “live & die” by my sports teams. Growing up in The Bronx and then Long Island, I thought I was in heaven whenever I watched the New York Mets at Shea Stadium, or the hockey Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum…and the ultimate location – Madison Square Garden.
Beyond question my younger brother and I inherited this “religion” from our friends and most of all, our dad. And when the weather cooled and the leaves started to turn colors, it always meant it was time for our “New York Football Giants” and to be with our father.
To this day, I still contend that the phrase “best seats of the house” meant to be with my dad and brother in our living room huddled around the television watching the Giants. Sadly, except for a too brief but glorious time, our team was bad – really bad.
If you’re a sports fan, no doubt you understand. If you’re not,(like my Rana) you probably stopped reading this and turned the page to Bill Blurb’s jokes.
Now my Pop was always a gentleman and his sons, early on, learned that cussing and “nasty words” would not be accepted nor tolerated. And I made sure that this characteristic was followed by my sons as well.
But my dad had one exception – watching the Giants lose. And boy oh boy, did they lose.
My old man would let loose with a chorus of expletives directed to the TV on more than one game (or season). To me, it seemed perfectly appropriate to share such language with him. My sons eventually followed the example of their elders.
You should have seen my PILL (partner in love & life) Rana’s face the first time they came over the house to watch the game with me. Worse yet, we had no idea “why” she even questioned us as to our colorful expressions.
So as we were together last month watching the Giants, father and his boys, like clockwork began the usual rants. And then it hit me.
What could be better than a parent and his children (no matter what the age) being together sharing a common bond? And while my father was no longer with us, I wonder how he would have felt hearing those “Bronx cheers” shared by his sons and grandsons?
***UPDATE: In last month’s column, I wrote about how hard it was for me to admit that I required hearing aids. So picture my surprise when I reached for them one morning from its charging station and they were missing.
Now consider the amusement when my Rana found our cat “Eli” quietly munching away on her apparently new chew toys.
Now imagine my reaction. Can you guess how angry I was?
But, as I was chasing her while she (Eli, not Rana) scampered around the house, in hindsight, I’m relieved that damn feline was quicker than yours truly.
I confess if I caught her, it would be safe to say that our “Best Friends” columnist, Annoula Wylderich would have probably notified animal authorities – followed by my Ladylove throwing me out of her home.
Final result: New devices that are securely locked away… and Rana getting Eli another chew toy.
