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Paul Daugherty
Enquirer columnist files news and observations

Paul Daugherty
Paul Daugherty has been an Enquirer sports columnist since 1994 and has been chronicling Cincinnati sports since 1988. He has covered almost every major sporting event in America, as well as five Summer Olympics. Along the way, he has been named one of the country's top-5 sports columnists four times, and Ohio columnist of the year on seven different occasions. Last year, he was voted 2nd-best sports columnist in the country, by the Associated Press Sports Editors.

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Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Going home

Every so often, we all could use a good smack upside the perspective. I've been reading my friend and colleague Mark Curnutte's blog lately and if you haven't, you should. He writes with eloquent pain about returning home to Illinois to visit his dying mother, quite possibly for the last time. The tears flow from the keyboard to the screen.

We'll all be orphans, sooner or later. Those of us who are middle-aged and remain blessed with two healthy parents must take the time to appreciate that. Life is a prelude to eternity's symphony. We need to dance while we can.

I'm going home today. I call it home even though I've never lived there. My parents live in Bradenton, Fla., an hour south of Tampa. They moved there in 1982, three years after I graduated from college. Home is a state of mind.

My dad's 74, my mother a year younger. Each has had his share of health issues, but nothing to provoke much floor-pacing at 3 a.m. They're healthy, vital people and today, I will wrap each in hugs and familiarity. I will take none of it for granted. What an absolute blessing. Thanks, Mark, for giving me pause to celebrate what I have.

Live big. Joyfully.


3 Comments:

at 3:47 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

I've been reading Mark's blog as well. It must be a helpless felling to be so far away at a time like that. Tony Kornheiser wrote a amazing column when his father died in Florida on the 4th of July and Tony was in DC.

 
at 7:11 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ditto here, Paul. Mom is turning 90 at the end of this month. There is this burning need to go to LA and give her a big hug. Just to say, I love her so much and talk about old times. She has an uncanny ability to remind me of things I did that still bring smiles to her face.

Bradenton. Do not forget to go to Cortez. A nice place to visit. And on Sunday if you get a chance, go to Brandon and check out a sports bar called "Barnicles". I counted the TV's in there and believe me there are at least 500 of them all over the place.

ANd then, there is always Ybor in Tampa. Hope your parents are well and I always check your blog for timely reminders such as this.

Chess

 
at 10:28 PM Blogger Paul Daugherty said...

Thanks... when I'm down here I never miss sunset at Longboat Key and a beer on the Anna Maria Pier... and the Columbia restaurant at St. Armand's. BTW, TK's columns on his dad were genius for both their humor and warmth.They're in a couple collections of his you can find on Amazon...one's called I'm Back For More Cash,,,

 
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