IT'S NOT ALWAYS SUNNY
It’s your birthday on Friday.
In your 60-plus years of life, you’ve experienced unpredictable moments of tumultuous joy, uncontrollable laughter, celebrations, loss and heartache. But one thing that has remained true, at least in my 26 years, is that you — Dad — have always been my biggest fan. - For as long as I can remember, my dad has always told us, me and my older brothers, that we should do something that we are passionate about for a career. I know that, deep down, it’s because he was never able to do what he really wanted to. If he had it his way, if all the dreams came true, he would be a broadcast sports journalist. He would so enjoy getting paid to just talk sports.
It’s kind of funny how life works. I ended up, kind of, sort of, following in my dad’s footsteps, but following my own version of his dream, to become a journalist.
I was one of the few high school seniors who knew exactly what they wanted to do when they graduated. And my dad, with my mom right by his side, was always there rooting me on. He is always there for everything.
I remember in March 2020, I was down in the dumps for not having an internship yet. I had applied, emailed and called more than a dozen places since the fall or winter the previous year. But, finally, there was hope.
I was at the KTSW 89.9 radio station on the Texas State University campus for my morning shift on a random Tuesday or Thursday. I remember getting a call from the late Anita Miller-Byley, who was the editor of the Hays Free Press for years. She gave me the good news that they were going to be able to take me on as an intern, by way of the Dow Jones News Fund. Not just that, though. A paid internship, which is rare.
Other than my then-fiancé, the first person I wanted to call to share the good news with was my dad. I just remember the pride and this almost joyful, emotional break that I heard in his voice through the phone.
When I was promoted to reporter and then editor, his reaction was the same, but almost on a higher level. And when I went to physically cover a couple of sporting events — a once in a blue moon thing because I am not into sports like he is, as a die-hard fan of the Dallas Cowboys — it was almost like he was there covering them. He was so proud. He told my mom (even though I already told her). He told my brothers. He probably would even tell the mailman.
And when we started doing Fox 7 segments to share our stories on a different medium, he was even more ecstatic. I have been asked before why I didn’t go into TV news, especially in college because that was a common path for many journalism students. I just never felt like I had the confidence for it. I have a stutter and I just felt like it was going to hold me back, making me struggle to get through it.
After my dad watched the first two clips for Fox 7, he kept echoing how proud he is of me and that I was growing and getting better with each one. He even lovingly asked when I was going to be on TV next.
Dad is my biggest fan, but he is always everybody’s biggest fan. We always joke that he is this jolly old man because he is. He is the most positive person that I know. He has had his fair share of ups and downs in life, but he has always maintained a positive outlook.
I will, and I continue to, call him when I am stressed, scared and worried, but dad is always there to cheer me up. He is always there to lift me up. He is always there to put a smile on my face. He is always there to give me the big squeeze hugs. He is always there to make me laugh until I snort and can barely breathe anymore.
He is always there to say “I am just resting my eyes” when he is falling asleep in his recliner at 6 o’clock at night. He is always there to be silly when walking down the aisles of Target and Walmart. He is always there to sing passionately off-key in an otherwise musical family. He is always there to put a delicious meal on the table. He is always there to talk all things sports to anyone who will listen. He is always there to embrace his storytelling personality by reliving his childhood memories.
He is always there. And he always will be.
To dad, my biggest fan.
Navarro is the editor of the Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch. She can be reached at [email protected].
