I’m glad I made that call

As some of you might know, I went to Riverview Gardens High School in Bellefontaine Neighbors last weekend to shoot the Rams’ football game against Hazelwood East. It was a big deal, not only because it was my first chance to shoot a high school football game all season after being sick, but also because my dad played high school football at Riverview Gardens in the early 70s and my aunt and uncle graduated there.

Excited to be in a place with so many family ties, I called Dad while sitting in the stands before the game to tell him about it and we visited for about 15-20 minutes. We got to catch up on some things and I talked about how excited I was to be on the football field where he played as a teenager.

We also talked some about how surreal aging was, since I’m going to be 50 in January and he was going to turn 70 in May of next year.

I’m glad I made that call, because Tuesday night I got another call, this one from my younger brother telling me Dad had died of a heart attack.

While I am sad, that sadness is also softened by the conversation we had last weekend. It’s also softened by the fact that we reconnected back in 2009, thanks in part to a visit with my Aunt Debbie and another phone call or two that paved the way for that.

I’m glad for the memories we’ve made over the years. I think of when I lived in Nebraska a few years ago and spent my vacation with Dad and my stepmom. I think of how he came through for me financially when I had melanoma in 2018 when I was living in Wyoming. Because memories are all I have left now.

Don’t pass up a chance to spend time or talk to the people you care about. Because you never know when it’ll be your last chance to do so.

Like I said, I’m glad I made that call.

Mike Buhler is a staff writer for the Daily American Republic. Contact him at mbuhler@darnews.com.