Physically and mentally speaking, my Dad is one of the strongest people I know. I watched this man go to work with the flu, fevers, physical pain and food poison. I watched him get up at 5am and work in the blistering heat and cold, getting home at 6-7pm. During baseball season, it was just in time to watch a game.
With his immediate Family, he didn’t know the word, no. Growing up, not once did my Father ever raise his voice. He was always so calm and collected in any situation. My Brothers and I could be destroying the house, going nuts and while we drove my Mom crazy at times, he was unbothered. My Dad was a huge Baseball fan. The only time I ever saw him anxious was watching Baseball or Boxing. I can recall so many memories of watching Ball games with him and also big fights. One of my earliest Baseball memories was him sneaking me out of bed to finish watching game 5 of the 1995 Mariners-Yankees series (for my baseball fans, yes, it was that game!) My Brothers are younger and weren’t big into sports, so that was our bonding time. I’ll never forget his uncontrollable body twitches in close situations.
We grew up in a working class family, so trips to the stadiums were far and few in between. Growing up next to Yankee Stadium, naturally, I was a Yankees Fan. My Dad, get this, was a Red Sox fan. We managed to coexist, but his fandom took a back seat for his overall love of the game. He didn’t care who was playing, he just wanted to watch ball games. As an adult, one of my greatest joys and most vivid memories was taking him to a game (on my dime for a change). I’ll never forget, it was a day game on Memorial Day, 2014. The Yankees were on the road so I took him to Citi Field, the Mets were playing the Pirates. It was me, him and Noah, even though it was my treat to go to the game, I couldn’t stop him from getting Noah Ice Cream and cotton candy. Noah was about 2 years old and he took his afternoon nap around the 7th inning, he woke up in time to watch the Mets blow the lead, as usual, the Pirates won that game 5-3!
In November 2021, I told him I’d get him tickets to see his favorite Dominican Winter League Team, Las Águilas Cibaeñas. The Season came and went, unfortunately, I didn’t get to send him. On February 3rd, 2022, during the finale of the Caribbean World Series, we talked and I promised I would take him to a game in the upcoming season. Furthermore, when it resumes in 2023, I promised that I’d take him to a World Baseball Classic Game. Unfortunately, just a week later, he suffered a Bi-lateral Stroke. Like the warrior that he was, he fought and fought for 3 months. I had hope that I would be able to fulfill my promise. Then, Life, being the greatest Teacher of all, taught me a harsh lesson, stop putting things off for tomorrow. The trauma got the best of him and he passed on May 16, 2022. As Father’s Day approaches, I wanted to pay homage to him the best way I know how, by writing. Writing about him, growing up with him, our relationship through Baseball and his legacy.
I guess you can say my Dad was forced to retire early in 2020 and he went back to his home Country, the Dominican Republic. In March, the Pandemic took us all by storm. Baseball comes back to the center of our relationship. For 2 seasons, I’d share my MLB.TV subscription with him so he can keep up with games. In February of 21, I recall face timing him during the Caribbean World Series. For some reason, he couldn’t get the game, so I literally flipped the camera, placed it on my night stand and we watched the game that way together through FaceTime. When he suffered his stroke, I came to DR and when I turned on his TV, the 2nd app that popped up behind Netflix, was MLB.Tv. I felt some type of harmony when I saw that. However, Life can be unfairly cruel. Obviously, the Pandemic hindered traveling for many of us and during this time his Grandchildren total grew by 3 more. While I’ve made peace with his passing, a sense of guilt and regret lingers over me, since he didn’t get to meet Ayla (our youngest) and two more of his Grand babies, born in 2020. I reflect upon that lesson and the theme of, don’t wait for tomorrow, resonates.
He was the most nurturing Father, but he unlocked a new level as a Grandfather. He can be counted on for unconditional love, patience and fun. He always let himself get finessed for Happy Meals and Junk food. Who needs a quarter when you can go on unlimited lap rides and piggy back rides with Lelo/ Papa Welo. Brittney and I are working Parents. We’ve always had an amazing family support system and didn’t send our children to daycare. Noah, our oldest, spent a great deal of time with his Lelo while we worked. Sometimes he’d pull double duties with Noah and one of his other Grandkids, Aiden. I still don’t know how he managed with two raging toddlers. This is why it bothers me so much that he didn’t get to meet his 3 youngest Grand Kids.
Overall, saying my Father was beloved is an understatement. For everyone that met him, the unanimous description of him was that he was selfless and loving. He was the most kind hearted, gentle and loving person. Where he ate, we all ate. Where he drank, we all drank. Where he laughed, we all laughed. We hear this a lot about folks when they pass, but I promise you, this is one of those times that it is utterly true, he gave you the shirt off his back without questions asked. He came from this poor little town in the Dominican Republic, called Villa Bao, near Santiago, but his legacy in his town is Rich. In fact, his legacy wherever he went is Rich. He didn’t speak much English, but that didn’t stop him from communicating with you, socializing with you and sharing whatever he had with you. If you were in his presence, he wanted to ensure you were happy, fed and in good spirits. If you ran into him while he and my Mom were out, his famous saying was, “ No te valla, un traguito más” ( Don’t go yet, stay for one more drink). If he and my Mom were sitting at a local restaurant and you walked in, you better believe he’d tell you, “siéntate y coma un poco” ( sit down, join me and eat a bit). Gestures that made him a neighborhood gem
As Father’s Day approaches, if you still have your Father or Father figure, fulfill your promises to him. Call him just to tell him you love him because you don’t know it will be the last time you get too. Don’t wait for tomorrow because tomorrow may never come.
Growing Up Garcia 