I am so proud of him.
Stephanie, over at your favorite New Jersey-based tumblelog I Can See New York City from My House, has re-posted an anecdotal comment I left on an earlier post of hers about the great Steve Prefontaine. I now re-re-post it here so that it is formally entered into the record:
I was once on the train wearing a Prefontaine t-shirt, a tasteful portrait in red, and some guy asked me if it was my son. I beamed and said “It sure is, sir, and I am so proud of him.” He said “God bless, that’s beautiful.”
How old did that guy think I was, I wonder? I suppose when you pass retirement age anyone under 40 looks the same.
The obvious opportunity I missed is telling the man that I was proud of my son for the specific reason that he once held the American record in the 10,000 meter and appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated at age 19. My beautiful son!
Also, it was Katie that made me the t-shirt in question. This is what the portrait looks like, except in red. Who wouldn’t want that fiery, free-spirited hunk of 1970s vintage young manhood springing forth from their loins?
