Monday, December 17, 2007

I heard on NPR that St. Paul is now Hockeytown USA. Detroit has been dethroned. The Minnesota Wild sell out every game and have been doing so for years. They say babies born in Minnesota are removed from the womb by grabbing the skate blade (ouch! for the Mom's!). Several of my college peers went on to make millions in the NHL including Brett Hull. My Detroit relatives were impressed that I went to college with Brett and actually had him in a few classes. My little 6 degrees of separation, or is it 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon? I can't remember.

Tonight I talked to my uncle who is my dad's brother. Halfway through the conversation it struck me how much his voice and pronunciation sounds like my Dad's. It was comforting somehow. I miss my dad. After his passing holidays were never the same. It's like he was the glue that held us together. I always think of him but I especially think of him and remember him at Christmas. Now it's usually just Mom and me at Christmas. And Mom has never really been that into the holiday since Dad passed away. So we probably won't do anything too exciting on the day.

5 comments:

nancy said...

since russ died, i find it comforting as well to talk to his brother. and i am finding more similarities as well, including their voices.

thanks for the post. being a hockey mom in a hockey family, i'm impressed that you went to school with brett hull. my boys will be very impressed!

cornbread hell said...

my dad was always kinda the glue. or at least the one i remember as such. now it's my sister. she is the glue.

i'll look for and hopefully send you a GREAT newspaper article i read recently about brett hull and his new role as co-general manager of the dallas stars. what a guy!

~Betsy said...

Going to school with Brett Hull is pretty impressive! Like Nancy, I am also a hockey mom in a hockey family. In fact, my parents met while both were members of the Pittsburgh Hornets Booster club (pre-Penguin days).

My son plays against Mario Lemieux's nephew in high school hockey. I kinda feel sorry for the kid because he has some big skates to fill and he can't escape the name.

I think it's pretty cool that you can hear similarities between your uncle and dad. It would be comforting.

Joanne said...

Hi Rilara. Hope you don't mind me coming to visit your blog. Found you through the other caregivers. I can relate to your comment about your dad being the glue that held the family together. I feel the same since my dad's been gone. Family is not the same. My uncle doesn't sound like my dad, but he looks like him. That's always a joy when I visit him. I'll keep you and your mom in my thoughts.

rilera said...

Hi Joanne, it's nice to meet you! I'm glad that you stopped by. I appreciate your comments. My uncle also looks like my dad. It's comforting for me. And he's a good guy too.

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