My dad.

My dad.
by scal_irish (2005-11-09 01:07:26)

In reply to: The broken link: What has ND's football tradition meant to you? posted by Board Ops

ND football means Irish-Catholic pride to me. My father born and raised in Pittsburgh loved the Irish.
My sister recalls that dad used to listen to the games on the radio every Saturday. My dad grew up in an predominantly Irish neighborhood. Everyone lived ND football in the fall.

She mentioned to me the other night, that Johnny Lujack's father had a coal delivery service in my father's neighborhood. Johnny's dad became a celebrity of sorts in their little burgh.

My family came to California in the 1940's.

I remember as a very little girl, watching the ND/USC games on TV with my dad. I knew there was something special about the blue and gold..my dad..Irish football..my life..I lost him in 1980..but his love for the Irish burns in me and became my own many years ago..I could not imagine
a better tradition to pass on to my daughter..

She is now 3 years old..has known and could sing most of the fight song since she was 2.

She told me last night how much she loves "Rudy" "because he tries hard mama".
I told her that what it takes..hard work and love.

We may not be alumni but, I grew up believing God, Country, Notre Dame.
And so will she.

my dad

As I stated before, my dad thought the sun rose and set @ Notre Dame. He died on December 13,1996 having not lived long enough to see my son's acceptance letter dated, "December 13th, 2002".

I went home early the day the letter came, I drove to my son's High School and placed the unopened envelope on his steering wheel. He later told me later that night that he sat in his truck for a long time, afraid to open it, when he finally did, he said the first thing he noticed was the date-he said it sent chills up his spine.

Call me nuts but I believe he had a hand in it...god truly works in wonderous ways.

Thanks dad.