Father-In-Law



Rick, Eloise, Dale, Steve



Dale and I are on the north shore of Lake Ponchatrain in Abita Springs, LA, visiting my father-in- law (also known as Dale's father). He is an interesting guy with a great story. He grew up in New Orleans, was a star running back for Tulane University.

He was a high school history teacher by profession, but his real passion was high school football. He was the head coach of the largest high school in the metro area for many years--and he was very good at it.
After he retired he began training and racing thoroughbred horses. Turns out there are a lot of similarities between training athletes and training thoroughbreds. Again, he was very good at it. He'll turn 83 next month. Today his pursuits take a more pedestrian turn.

He was married to Dale's mother for 47 years, until her death 15 years ago. Two years after she died he reconnected with a wonderful lady he'd known and dated when they were high school students. They've now been married for 13 years. She's pictured with us.

My father died when I was 14. Six years later I married Dale and married into her family. I have a lot of experience being a son-in-law. I've been doing that for 34 years now. What I don't have any experience at is being a father-in-law.

That's going to change, however. Next month my son is getting married and I'll take on a new role. And we'll do it again in December when my daughter gets married.

In response to Congress' effort to define obscenity, former Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart famously said, "I don't know how to define it [obscenity], but I know it when I see it."



Steve and Rick



Father-in-law is a unique role. It's not a mini-father or dad-lite. It's its own role. I don't know how to define a good father-in-law, but I know one when I see one. I can already anticipate many times to come when I'll have to pause and ask myself, "Now what would Rick do?" He is steadfast in his commitments and optimistic in his spirit. I'm glad to have a model to draw on. I really have a great father-in-law.