This got me. I didn't watch the fight, either. Couldn't. My dad wasn't a drinker, but he was like your dad in a lot of ways. I keep putting off writing about him because it's still raw. In March he'll be gone two years. Everything about him was larger than life and most of what he did made my life more difficult. Loved him more than words.
It took me a couple years before I could properly deal with my dads stuff so I totally get it. Now I just try to forgive his faults and remember how much I love him.
I try to focus on the good stuff. Not even sure the rest is important anymore, but I guess it’s part of the process to acknowledge it. There was a time we were buddies. That should be the meaningful part. The hurt shouldn’t be the takeaway.
hi. recommending Katherine Dunn's One Ring Circus, George Plimpton's Shadowboxer, and Norman Mailer's The Fight. The first is her articles about boxing, which includes a great piece on Johnny Tapia. The other two are accounts of the Ali/Foreman fight.
It’s odd when I think about it but I have spent more time reading about boxing than I have watching it. The pro fights, anyway. Had some amateur friends I liked watching. For some reason, it lends itself well to retelling in prose.
I love stories of how movies (and books et al) affect people on a personal level -- when there's a spark of recognition there.
I find The Wrestler great because you can feel his body succumbing to gravity.
Rourke should have got an Oscar for his performance omg
This got me. I didn't watch the fight, either. Couldn't. My dad wasn't a drinker, but he was like your dad in a lot of ways. I keep putting off writing about him because it's still raw. In March he'll be gone two years. Everything about him was larger than life and most of what he did made my life more difficult. Loved him more than words.
It took me a couple years before I could properly deal with my dads stuff so I totally get it. Now I just try to forgive his faults and remember how much I love him.
I try to focus on the good stuff. Not even sure the rest is important anymore, but I guess it’s part of the process to acknowledge it. There was a time we were buddies. That should be the meaningful part. The hurt shouldn’t be the takeaway.
hi. recommending Katherine Dunn's One Ring Circus, George Plimpton's Shadowboxer, and Norman Mailer's The Fight. The first is her articles about boxing, which includes a great piece on Johnny Tapia. The other two are accounts of the Ali/Foreman fight.
Great post about your dad. Got me to sub.
Thanks for the recs, and the sub!
It’s odd when I think about it but I have spent more time reading about boxing than I have watching it. The pro fights, anyway. Had some amateur friends I liked watching. For some reason, it lends itself well to retelling in prose.
Jeez, I now know why I've watched the wrestler five times.
That was my dad too.
Logger, tough, he would drink a bottle of rum and a dozen beers a day.
Died in a similar way.
I started down that road but luckily pulled up before I hit the ground.
My dad got together with maniacs like your dad constantly. I remember falling asleep in class because they were always up partying so late.
Also my clothes always smelled like weed smoke, because the house was filled with it and we dried our clothes above the fireplace inside.
Kids told on me and I was pulled into the principals office and asked if I was smoking weed at school.
I said my dad was smoking so much weed at home with his friends ( which included our schools horticulture teacher ) that was wan I reeked
My dad was more of a nose candy guy. That's when he was gone for days and came home and slept for days. Brutal!
Apparently when my mom went into labour with me my dad was on acid and she was really mad about it 🤣
I'm sure if our dads got together it would've been a CRAZY time!
Powerful stuff. Thanks for sharing it. Some of it resonates with me. But I’m lucky my dad grew out of most of his bad habits.
Thanks for reading. I don't normally post stuff like this. Glad your dad was able to break his habits, it's really tough!
Thank you for this. Your dad was quite a guy, toughness, like courage is always admirable.
My dad didn’t have any bad habits, and he lived to be 90. I am very grateful for both of my parents.
Well shit, now I’m crying
beautiful piece Lisa
Thank you. Sorry for the crying.
No apology necessary, needed to wipe this mascara off anyway ;)