re: Share some of your experiences you had with your father

My dad was a life long tiger fan and bled P&G. He was a Union Iron worker and worked his tail off, but we didn't get to attend very many games when I was a kid. He did manage to get me and him to one game a year. I remember getting to go see LSU v UF in the late 80's, not even sure of the year anymore (Archers first year maybe?) but I can remember the game and talking to him during it like it was yesterday.

So to the story, as he got older he developed cancer in his throat from asbestos exposure, and mesothelioma(sp?). He was strong as an ox at 75 but didnt have the ability to walk long distances because of his breath. So I got tickets to see LSU and Arky State in 2004. We all knew his time was short and I took the first tickets I could afford to try and return the favor. Me and the wife brought him to what would be his last game in Death Valley. I knew it would be hard on him and we made every effort to keep the walking o a minimum but it was still a choir. By the end of the 3rd quarter I could tell he was struggling so we got set to leave. He had to stop for oxygen on the way out and I started to feel like crap for putting him through that all to feel good about myself. I guess he could see it on my face as we sat on a bench near Mike's cage. He looks at me and said I wouldn't want to be anywhere else than Death Valley on a Saturday night. One of my lasting memories as he passed away on Christmas Eve of that year.