A Special Gift

The amount of gifts we have received throughout the showers has been amazing. It's unbelievable how much stuff a baby requires! One of the gifts I personally received was from a great friend of mine, Damon Phelan.

A couple years ago, Damon, his brothers and his father, Joe went with a few of us to a Notre Dame game in South Bend. We made a special trip to Digger Phelps house to meet Digger! He gave Joe, a LIFELONG Notre Dame fan, a special memento and an awesome pep talk! After an amazing tailgate and a very big shopping trip through the ND bookstore we were wrapping up one of Joe's bucket list items. Just a few short weeks after that day, Joe passed away and we lost a great and loving father, a good friend, a fantastic architect and true ND fan.

That day in the bookstore, Joe bought 4 Norte Dame ties. They ended up with Damon after Joe passed. For a shower gift specifically for me, Damon gave me 2 of them, one for me and one for Evan. Along with the ties was the most heartfelt and special note I have ever received. Damon talked about that day and how special it was to him him and his dad. He talked about the unique relationship between a dad and his son. He also gave me some great advice to keep your wife as the center of your world-that the best way you can teach your son to love is show how how to love his mother with all your heart. He finished by saying that he wanted me to take Evan to a game someday and wear the ties and to tell him about the special day that a dad and his sons shared the specter of Notre Dame and all it's mystique.

I read the letter and broke down in tears as I finished it. It was just awesome to feel the love in his words for his son, his dad and me. I read it to the women still at our house and we all cried again.

I'll never lose that letter and I can't wait to take Evan to Notre Dame stadium someday wearing those very ties. I think I'll get 4 seats and Damon and Dillon can go as well. We'll all remember Joe and remember how special that day was those many years prior.

Thanks Damon for being a mentor and a friend for the last 10 years. To our sons and fathers!