The Tour has just finished. My favorite sporting event. Probably the only sporting event I really care about (oh, except, of course, watching the Cougs with you ,William.) This year, however, it was a little hard to watch. For so many years, as many as I can remember, as soon as each stage was finished I was on the phone with my dad reacting to the days triumphs and disappointments, predicting the finish, discussing the strategies...sometimes he would even call during the final sprint, but I was never sure if I really liked this slight distraction. But this year, even in the final sprint, I found myself longing to grab the phone, stopping just short, knowing he wouldn't answer...ever again.
I've always felt a bit let down at the end of the Tour; I'm not really ready for it to end. For three weeks I have spent every morning glued to the TV, catching Tour updates throughout the day, and basically obsessing about the actions of guys in spandex riding around on bikes; and then when its over, life seems a bit dreary for a couple of days and I'm not sure what to read about in the paper or on the internet. It usually takes a day or so to regain some sort of clarity and focus again.
But now, as I sit and watch, for the third time tonight, the riders race down the Champs-Elysees I cannot help but think of my dad and the grand tour that was his life. He was a great champion and raced as hard as could until he reached the finish line. I wasn't ready for his Tour to finish...and I'm finding it very hard to regain my focus.
Tonight, a heartfelt congratulations to Carlos Sastre, winner of the 2008 Tour de France. And a nod to my dad, a truly great man. I miss you.
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6 comments:
Carrie, luv ya babe :) When I was watching your kids two weeks ago, we kept finding the tour recording, and we were all like... how do we NOT mess with this?? I like living... and I wouldn't if I messed this up.. :)
Such a sweet tribute to your dad and also such a sad reminder of all the little things that we miss when we lose a loved one. I am thinking about you.
m
What a nice tribute to your dad. He lived a good life, I'm sure. I'm sorry for your loss. Keep up the good work!
Laurie
It took about 4 paragraphs to figure out you were talking about the Tour de France?! I know what you mean about calling your dad. It took me about 2 years after my dad died to stop going to the phone to tell him something--like a show on TV that I know he would like, or that someone in the old neightborhood or a distant relative died, you know just something. You miss your parents so much after they are gone!
It's so hard, isn't it. I don't know why but I can't bring myself to remove Dad's number from my phone. I know that I'll never call the number again but still it stays at speed dial #3. It's such a silly thing but I think about that all the time. I love you sister.
I hear ya' gabe. I think I cried the hardest after my Grandma died when I was clearing out my email and deleted all the chain emails she had sent over the years.
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