Dad and The Duke

Dad and I went to the movies every Friday night. Mom worked nights, my sister was mostly busy with friends. It wasn’t that I didn’t have friends. But, Friday was movie night. With Dad.

We’d grab a burger at the Taxi Cab Café or Harbor lanes, or a steak at T-Bones. Dad knew everyone. He’d gossip about his sales route for Challenge Dairy. Tell a slightly off-color joke. At 6’4”, with a voice that boomed and bounced off walls, Dad was larger than life.

He was my hero.

We’d stop at Partricks and he’...