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Well, before I get started on Crushing Reality, I wanted to put up a quick post recognizing the efforts of my parents. They raised four children in a middle-class neighborhood in Brooklyn. Bensonhurst to be exact. They had no problem making any and all sacrifices to ensure that their kids were given a well-lit path to a bright future. With my mother being a stay-at-home mom, a private Catholic education for the four of  us was no easy task, especially considering that we are all four years apart. That meant a hefty High School tuition every year from 1992 straight through to 2007. Just thinking about that is exhausting. But they did it - and without complaints. But the ultimate goal wasn't reached until recently. The youngest of the four, my sister, followed the path just like the rest of us and graduated from college - completing the cycle.

We've come a long way from 1992.

Today, 2011:
Charles (33) is a Sales Engineer.
John (29), I am in Finance - Middle Office Portfolio Solutions.
Joseph (25) is a Client Specialist for a Research Company.
Nicole (21) is off to Graduate School to become a Speech Pathologist.

Now, we're not exactly a family of doctors and lawyers. But, we are all professionals - creating our own paths in our fields of choice. I'm just saying, it must be very gratifying going 4-4.

Thank you both very much for that well-lit path.

On that note - Father's Day is this coming weekend. I don't know what to get him. He likes coffee....a lot.

One of my greatest Father/Son memories:

2009 World Series - Game 6
Wednesday, November 4, 2009, 7:57 p.m. (ET) at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, New York

2 Tickets.
New Yankee Stadium.
Chilly November evening.

Yankees - out in front in the second inning and never looked back.

It was just a party atmosphere all game long.

2nd Inning: Matsui, 2-run homer.
3rd Inning: Matsui, 2RBI Single.
5th Inning: Teixeira, RBI Single. Matsui 2RBI Double.

THEN...

Believe me when I tell you...seeing Mariano Rivera come out of the bullpen in the 8th inning having a 7-3 lead in the clinching game of the World Series is an indescribable feeling. I mean, IT'S THE CLINCHING GAME OF THE WORLD SERIES!

Enter Sandman.

5 outs later - GLORY!

To say that the stadium was actually rocking would be a injustice and a gross understatement to the celebration that ensued.

Thank you Mariano.

That was one of the greatest days of my life.

I will post pics/vids here at some point.