Matthew Osborne
I usually stick out like a porpoise in a dolphin convention, walking around the hills of North Georgia with my worn out but faithful Philadelphia Eagles jacket.
It’s got some wear and tear on it after 13 years, but I plan to wear it until it falls off. And it’s a great conversation starter, especially now that the Eagles are one of four teams that can still win the Super Bowl.
I mean, in my mind, it’s one of one, but that’s ego talking. Lots of work still to do, insert coachspeak here, etc.
In light of the (ahem) possibility of losing, I made a point to watch last weekend’s game with my dad, from whom I inherited this deep obsession with Philly sports to begin with. We also watched Game 6 of the World Series together, though that did not go as well.
But the win or loss was not the main point, but rather the chance to share something with Pops that we have shared all my life. We have gone to games all over the Eastern Seaboard for decades, but those days are gone, sadly.
My father has been in declining health, and in addition to reveling in the Eagles’ domination of the Giants, we had other matters to discuss. Hopefully it won’t be needed immediately, but we had to discuss issues relating to his will.
Everyone middle aged person like myself has faced that tough discussion with their parents at one point or another. Many of those my age have already lost their parents, which is a difficult thing when it comes.
My father has fought through countless health issues, any one of which could cause him serious problems at any time. He is unable to do much now physically, but he has tried to boil things down to the basics – keeping in touch with family, rooting for the Birds and laughing just a little harder when stories of good old times are brought up.
Late Saturday night when the game was over, we talked about paperwork and legal nonsense, but also a little about life and that none of us are promised tomorrow. I mentioned that a close friend of mine has a young 7-year-old nephew named Carter who faces an uphill battle with an illness that comes bearing dire statistics.
Pops heard that story and dropped his head in a somber fashion. Choking back tears, something he has rarely shown me in 45-plus years, he said, “I would give my life right now for that little boy to be healthy.”
That’s someone he has never met. That touched me in a way that I cannot fully explain, and obviously felt compelled to write about and share with you.
My dad has been called an abrasive guy and has never quite played well with others (I mean, he’s from Philly, come on), but after all this time, with him facing his own mortality, that was a momentary glimpse at his true soul.
I am proud every time I pull that Eagles jacket over my shoulders, and my Pops gave me that. But in that moment, I have never been more proud to be his son, because I knew his sentiment was genuine. We can win or lose one more Eagles game while we are both here or 1,000 more, and I doubt it will be as impactful as that moment.
I pray for my dad, and for Carter … and for anyone out there facing adversity involving a loved one.
Matthew Osborne is the editor of The Northeast Georgian. Reach him at 706-778-4215 or editor@TheNortheastGeorgian.com.