Ted v JoePa

The next few days before Christmas are filled with the hustle and bustle of getting ready, buying, wrapping, singing, celebrating, and sometimes stress. The season is everywhere. Songs on the radio, TV specials, glittering lights. It is a red and green explosion all over the world. What some people see as the "most wonderful time of the year" others see as a bit of a gyp. People who have birthdays right before the 25th are always a little bit of an afterthought. I know 2 people who understand that and have for over 8 decades...Joe Paterno and my father. Granted, I dont really know JoePa, although we have met on more than one occasion, but I do know my Dad pretty well and he still feels the sting of being born 5 days before Christmas every year.

These two men have a lot in common. Ted and Joe were both born in Brooklyn, Dad on the 20th and Joe on the 21st of December 1926. They are sons of immigrants from Italy who stepped onto Ellis Island and made NYC their home. The two grew up during the great depression and the war to end all wars. Both married and stayed married to one woman. Both have children and many grandchildren. Both are great men. They remind me of each other more and more when I hear them speak. The Brooklynese never really leaves their speech patterns, they are sometimes brash, outspoken, bright and funny. When Joe loses his temper on the sidelines I see my father's gait and recognize the flailing arms and disgusted facial expressions. Ted and Joe both tend to calm down quickly, too. They are loving and giving men. Joe gives millions of dollars to build a library, Dad gives whatever he can, not millions but many thousands, to those of us who have occasionally needed it.

On his birthday I try and make sure my Dad gets a card, at least. If I go to visit on the holiday I usually bring him 2 presents, a birthday and a Christmas present. He is thrilled that he gets birthday presents even to this day. When he turned 80 we burned a CD for him with the most popular song from each decade, the 20s to the 00s. It was fun to listen to and appreciate the changes the world and he have seen and echoed in music. Think about the comparison of "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree" and "Hips Don't Lie"!

My father may not have won 400 football games but he has accomplished so much. He served his country, built a home and supported his family with only a high school education. He started a business when he was 50 and ran it successfully for almost 30 years. He traveled the world with my mother, reveled in the lives of his children and grandchildren, and charmed many a woman young and old with his smile and personality. He is well read and smart. He knows facts and dates and names like you cant believe and is my mother's answer man, even if she now has to shout the questions. He gives wonderful hugs and tends to kiss us twice each time he greets us. He is fun and tireless. Ted is a devoted husband who took care of my mothers every need though her bouts with cancer and her open heart surgery. He is amazing! He even shared his Jets tickets with his family until this year and now he even has a facebook page!!

Monday is the 20th and Tuesday the 21st, a few days before the celebration of the birth of the Christ Child, and red letter days for Ted and Joe! Happy birthday to them both and may we all celebrate more with them in the years to come on the football field (go Jets, go Lions!)and off.