With Father’s Day in a few weeks and with yesterday being the sixth anniversary of the day that Dad died, I want to make sure the babies know their grandfather, who I still miss every day. Of course, we will tell them stories, but since I plan to print this blog for them to keep, I wanted it to include something about their Grandpa to look back on and get to know him. I’ve decided to do this by featuring the speech I gave about Dad at his funeral because it really gets at who Dad was and what they missed. Here it is….
Ten Things You Didn’t Know About Dad/Grandpa/Al Funderburg
While today is one of the hardest days of my life, I’ve come up here to give a tribute to my dad, and one of the most precious thing he gave me…his sense of humor. So, while most of you know dad was funny, always the first to crack a joke (most of them not very good) or try to make you laugh, here are the top ten things you didn’t know about Dad:
10. Dad was the New Kids on the Block biggest fan. I mean, c’mon, who else spends their Saturday mornings carting their daughter and her friends around Dorchester and Jamaica Plain looking for them or buys these great shades at a New Kids on the Block concert.
9. Dad may have been tough, but a simple amusement park ride could take him down. I’ve never seen him greener than the day he stepped off the tilt-a-whirl at a carnival and vowed he’d never ride another one again.
8. Dad loved the nerfuls. Who are the nerfuls you ask? They are these little toys. For Christmas one year, I begged and begged for one. He gave me the entire set. I think he always secretly wanted to play with them.
7. Dad was a member of the PGA…or was it the mini golf-PGA. I can’t remember, but what I do know is that every summer Dad and I went on the tour of the greatest golf courses in New England. From Hago Harrington’s in Stoneham to Pirate’s Cove on the Cape.
6. Dad was royalty. Well, at least from the sounds of the way he used to rule Somerville and Moore Street with his friends, he must have been a king or something. I wasn’t there, of course, but I’m sure many of you have your own memories.
5. Dad was a judge in the diving competition at the 1988 Olympics and I was the gold winner. Those Olympics were held in New Hampshire weren’t they? Dad would spend hours sitting by the side of hotel swimming pools, scoring every dive I did into the pool. At the end of every competition, he always made me feel like the winner.
4. Dad swore he would never see the Red Sox win the World Series in his life, and that I probably wouldn’t either. Thank you, Red Sox, for giving that to all of us. Dad was the first person I called that wonderful night.
3. Dad was a pinball wizard. I’ve never known anyone that loved to play pinball more than Dad. His initials are memorialized on pinball games in arcades throughout New England. Next time you’re at Canobie Lake Park (does that even exist anymore?), be sure to look for his initials.
2. Dad loved high-class culture and taught me about only about the finer things in life. You know, like how to appreciate a fight during a Bruins’ game or how to make that pop noise with your mouth (I still can’t do it).
1. Dad loved all of us, his family, friends, and me. And, I know we’ll miss him dearly, every single day. But the next time you find yourself telling a bad joke or making a sarcastic but funny remark, try to remember Dad. That’s the way he’d want to be remembered. Smiling and laughing. Mom and I wish you precious cargo on your trip. We’ll miss you.
Piper and Fletch, your grandfather would have loved so much, and he’s watching over you every day.
Ten Things You Didn’t Know About Dad/Grandpa/Al Funderburg
While today is one of the hardest days of my life, I’ve come up here to give a tribute to my dad, and one of the most precious thing he gave me…his sense of humor. So, while most of you know dad was funny, always the first to crack a joke (most of them not very good) or try to make you laugh, here are the top ten things you didn’t know about Dad:
10. Dad was the New Kids on the Block biggest fan. I mean, c’mon, who else spends their Saturday mornings carting their daughter and her friends around Dorchester and Jamaica Plain looking for them or buys these great shades at a New Kids on the Block concert.
9. Dad may have been tough, but a simple amusement park ride could take him down. I’ve never seen him greener than the day he stepped off the tilt-a-whirl at a carnival and vowed he’d never ride another one again.
8. Dad loved the nerfuls. Who are the nerfuls you ask? They are these little toys. For Christmas one year, I begged and begged for one. He gave me the entire set. I think he always secretly wanted to play with them.
7. Dad was a member of the PGA…or was it the mini golf-PGA. I can’t remember, but what I do know is that every summer Dad and I went on the tour of the greatest golf courses in New England. From Hago Harrington’s in Stoneham to Pirate’s Cove on the Cape.
6. Dad was royalty. Well, at least from the sounds of the way he used to rule Somerville and Moore Street with his friends, he must have been a king or something. I wasn’t there, of course, but I’m sure many of you have your own memories.
5. Dad was a judge in the diving competition at the 1988 Olympics and I was the gold winner. Those Olympics were held in New Hampshire weren’t they? Dad would spend hours sitting by the side of hotel swimming pools, scoring every dive I did into the pool. At the end of every competition, he always made me feel like the winner.
4. Dad swore he would never see the Red Sox win the World Series in his life, and that I probably wouldn’t either. Thank you, Red Sox, for giving that to all of us. Dad was the first person I called that wonderful night.
3. Dad was a pinball wizard. I’ve never known anyone that loved to play pinball more than Dad. His initials are memorialized on pinball games in arcades throughout New England. Next time you’re at Canobie Lake Park (does that even exist anymore?), be sure to look for his initials.
2. Dad loved high-class culture and taught me about only about the finer things in life. You know, like how to appreciate a fight during a Bruins’ game or how to make that pop noise with your mouth (I still can’t do it).
1. Dad loved all of us, his family, friends, and me. And, I know we’ll miss him dearly, every single day. But the next time you find yourself telling a bad joke or making a sarcastic but funny remark, try to remember Dad. That’s the way he’d want to be remembered. Smiling and laughing. Mom and I wish you precious cargo on your trip. We’ll miss you.
Piper and Fletch, your grandfather would have loved so much, and he’s watching over you every day.
oxoxoxo
ReplyDelete