The Champion

On Friday morning, at about 8am my dad came home from work for the last time.  28 days from his 70th birthday, he retired from state service.  This post is dedicated to him.

My dad, the Champion

I am very excited to travel to Kenya with my dad.  As you may have read in the previous post The Date Has Been Set, my dad had previously traveled to Kenya with me and loved it.  If anybody deserves this trip, it is my dad.

He has worked his entire life, often carrying more than one job at a time.  I remember when I was little he was working 2-3 jobs and I was hardly ever seeing him.  He sat me down and apologized that he was working so much and said that he would buy me a Nintendo to help me pass the time.

For our younger audience, this is the Nintendo I was referring to

At the time, that was a big deal, because my mom was a stay at home mom and dad was doing everything he could to pay the bills.  I remember eating pizza so much that I absolutely hated it.  Imagine that, having pizza so much that you hate it!  The reason I hated it, was because after his day job he would work a second one making pizzas at a restaurant in Racine and when people would forget to pick up the pizzas they would order he would bring them home so we could eat for free.

He worked in a factory, he sold insurance, he sold investments, he sold real estate, he helped his brother launch a product, he sold used cars, he made pizza, he worked at Southern Oaks Girls School, then Wales School for Boys, and then moved to the adult system.  I am sure I am missing multiple jobs he held, but I think you get the point.

Not only did he work, he did something far more important...he raised me, my brother Seth, and over 70 other siblings in his 26 years of being a foster dad.  That in itself, is a story to tell...and I hope he does some day.

I am proud of my dad, he is a good man that has worked hard and helped countless people!  Now, on to the next chapter in Kenya where he will continue to help others.

Chasing the dream: Phil Sr with his namesake Phillip III