Over a year ago on February 22nd I was combing through my father's closet. It was a day after his death, and my Step-Mom was asking me what I wanted to bring back. I knew immediately what I wanted. It was only really one thing. I looked everywhere for it, behind his hats, in his drawers, through his closet and under his bed. It wasn't there. I needed to wear it because I had tickets just three days later against the Flames. I had to bring him with me. He had to be there.
But I couldn't find it, and I left Florida empty handed. I went to the game with my brother on 2/25. The last live sporting event I have seen since. We drank to him. We cheered him. But something was missing. I needed to find it. The next game he would be with me.
So we had his celebration of life in Lincoln, NH where he made his home when in NH. After having many drinks, crying a lot, and delivering a eulogy that I can now barely remember, I crawled back into his old bed. I was drunk. And Sad. And hollow.
When I woke up, I went searching again. As soon as I opened his closet, I found it. You can't miss this thing, you see, because it is bright green. The type of bright green that makes you want to shield your eyes when you first see it. But if you knew my Dad, you knew that was his signature. It was how his friends and family would know he was at the game. That green jersey stood out like a beacon, and every game we went to, he wore it. As Tony of this Board knows, I went to A LOT of games with my Dad. We had a routine. We would go down to North Star (now we go to McGanns), get there around 4pm, drink a shot and beer, order the same apps, the same sandwiches, and the same booze. We would get nice and buzzed, then walk over to the Garden for warm ups.
Then COVID hit, and the jersey collected dust in my closet. When I put away my clothes I would see it, wondering when I would get to take the old man to a game again.
Tomorrow, the Green jersey returns to the Garden. He won't be there to wear it, but I will. I will wear it every game I go to from now on knowing I am bringing a small part of him with me.
Tomorrow the Kelly Green mojo returns, and the Bruins will win.