Family - Part One

My father turned 67 today, which takes me back to one special birthday, my most memorable birthday. On my twelfth birthday my father, 38 years old at the time, gathered my closest friends to see the Los Angeles Lakers at the Fabulous Forum in Los Angeles.

The rain came down hard, all day, as it did every year on my birthday. Which I look back and realize how special that was. Rain in Southern California is so rare, and such an event. Most Californians do not own an umbrella, and every news station south of Bakersfield had a rain-slickered news correspondent reporting from a city street corner where the storm drains are not wide enough to handle the sudden flow of water.

This day, the rain was even harder than usual. The Lakers were the champions of the basketball world, and in the past 12 months, after Magic was drafted, my father and I watched many Laker games on television. Channel 9 had Chick Hearn putting game after game in the refrigerator. Up until now, I just saw the mustard yellow and pumpkin orange seats of the Fabulous Forum from the old television console. This would be my first trip to see the World Champion Los Angeles Lakers.

I am turning twelve years old and my father was taking me to see my favorite sports team for the first time. How cool was I to have a father take his son and his friends to see the champs in person? I vaguely recall the game being on Friday night. The sky was dark and the freeway was dancing with water. We didn't notice or remember much because as twelve year-olds we were too busy frolicking in our infinite world of wisecracks and naivety.

When my father parked the car, I became anxious. We were there. Across the street the colossal white and orange Fabulous Forum stood alone. The Green Walk light stoked my engine and I burst like a sprinter across the street. We all did! I almost reached the curb on the other side when in full stride I lost my footing. I went from running to swimming in to 6+ inches of rain. I was soaked.

The Forum was fabulous, just as were the Lakers. I sat in my seat and rooted my team, and felt the itch and discomfort of rain soaked clothes in a crowded and hot arena. The night was special and the rain made it extraordinary!

I love my dad for taking me to that game and making that such a wonderful event. I called him tonight to give him good wishes and he thanked me for his gift: A Rain Jacket! Happy Birthday Dad!