There was a time at the beginning of my career when I didn’t see Veterans Day for what it was.
The Board of Trade was always closed and I took it as an opportunity to kick start the Holiday season with a night out on the town.
On a Veterans Day Eve in the early 1990’s I went to Ceres located in the lobby under the trading floor. Ceres is known for the strongest cocktails in the Loop.
From Ceres to Gene & Georgetti to Redhead Piano bar…
I woke up on my couch Veterans Day morning to my answering machine going off. My dad sounded pissed and I suddenly realized that I listened to several pissed off dad messages when I got home a couple hours earlier.
I had plans to attend a ceremony at nine o’clock in the morning with my dad. It was 7:05am and I needed to be dressed and out the door at 7:30am.
I opened the door to the Dadillac and a cloud of Marlboro cigarette smoke waifed towards me. It was 7:31 and I was greeted with a …
…“You’re Late!”
Then I was asked if I received the fifteen text messages that my dad left the last fifteen hours.
Then my dad realized I was still shitfaced from the night before.
He wasn’t happy.
He was dressed up in tweed with his poppy pin on his lapel. That was the day I realized the importance of Veterans Day.
I received that poppy pin before my dad died and I wore it yesterday.
Would I do it all over again?
Well…..
I miss the trading floor. I miss going down to Ceres after the close, but most of all…
…I miss my Oldman.
I even miss getting into the ashtray of a car that I nicknamed the Dadillac.
That Veterans Day when I heard the National Anthem, Taps, prayers and tributes…
… it gave me a strong understanding of Faith and Country.
Now I have my Dad’s Poppy lapel pin that he proudly wore.
Thank you dad for one of many life lessons and God Bless America…
Tuesday is going to be a gorgeous autumn day. Take your long shadow for a walk along the leaves…
…and find astonishing things
