David J.

Pollay

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April 6, 2009

Happy Birthday Big Lou, and Thanks

Dad turns 79 this week. He is as strong of mind and body as ever. Dad still does whatever he can to take care of his family. He always has. In honor of his birthday, here’s an example.

I was 13. I had just eaten a ton of pizza with a couple friends at the local pizza place in Milwaukee. I was stuffed. We ate there at least once a week. We were walking toward the exit when a kid barreled into me. It was the “always in trouble” little brother of a girl I knew.

“What are you doing, Franky?” I asked.

Franky started punching me in the stomach.

“Franky, what are you doing?” I asked. “I just ate. Why are you hitting me?”

I stepped back. Franky stepped forward and kept punching.

“Enough, Franky!” I said as I moved him back this time. “Stop doing that.”

I turned to go.

And then boom! I went flying into the kitchen. Someone had shoved me hard from the side. I landed a step away from the pizza guy. I turned to see who pushed me. It was Franky’s “juvenile delinquent” cousin. He was 16.

He started yelling, “Why are you picking on someone younger than you are?”

I said, “What are you talking about?”

Then I remembered Franky had been sitting in a booth near the door with his trouble-maker cousin and another bad news kid. I realized I had been set up.

Now, I didn’t want any trouble. I knew this guy was bad news. So, I turned to my friends – who had been quiet the whole time – and said, “Let’s get out of here.” They followed. And so did the tough guy. He stopped at the door and yelled out, “If you come back here,” he said, pointing to the ground, “your ass is grass.”

I was a football player, and I could defend myself. But I had nothing to prove. I just wanted to hang out at my favorite place. So did my friends. Only now this older kid wanted to keep us out.

Mom and Dad were at home when I arrived. I didn’t want to talk about what had happened. I would just say hi and forget about it.

Mom and Dad were in the kitchen. “What’s wrong?” Mom said as I entered the room.

One-point-two seconds and my cover was already blown. “Nothing Mom. I’m fine.”

Dad said, “What’s going on?”

“Nothing, I’m OK.”

“No you’re not. Something happened, and you need tell us.”

So I gave in and told my parents everything.

“David, get your coat,” Dad said.

“Dad, we can’t do that,” I said. “That won’t be good.”

I didn’t want Dad involved. I was afraid people would think I needed my dad to protect me. Dad stopped and looked at me.

“How old is this guy?”

“Sixteen.”

“And how old are you?”

“Thirteen.”

“Son, get your coat.”

We got in the van and drove back to the place. Dad pulled up in front. “Is he still there?”

I looked out my window, “Yeah.”

“Which guy?” Dad said.

“The guy with the short hair by the window next to the exit.”

“OK. Stay in the van.”

I watched Dad get out and walk to the door. My dad was 6’3” and strong. Everyone called him Big Lou. I saw him through the restaurant windows. He went right to the table. Dad pointed at Franky’s cousin, and gestured for him to get up. The guy didn’t move. Dad then pointed again with his arm straight out. Still the guy didn’t move. Then Dad turned around, walked out and got back into the van.

“What did you say?” I asked Dad.

“I said, ‘I understand you’re looking for a fight. And you like going after kids younger than you are. I guess you’re the big man. OK, big man. Get up.’”

This must have been the part when Dad was motioning for the kid to stand up.

Dad continued, “‘Get up. Let’s go.’”

“What did he say?” I said.

“Nothing.”

“Then what?”

“I said, ‘My kid likes this place. He’ll be back. If you mess with him, I’ll be back.’”

The next week I went back with my friends. The kid was there. But he didn’t say anything. Neither did my friends. It was as though we had an agreement to forget about it. I guess everyone knew my dad. You don’t mess with Big Lou.

And at 79, Big Lou still looks after his family. Happy Birthday, Dad. Thanks for everything.

David J. Pollay is the creator of The Law of the Garbage Truck™. Mr. Pollay writes the Monday Morning Momentum Blog each week. He is a syndicated columnist with the North Star Writers Group, creator and host of The Happiness Answer™ television program, and an internationally sought after speaker. Mr. Pollay’s book, Beware of Garbage Trucks!™, is due out later this year. Mr. Pollay is the founder and president of the consulting and seminar organization, The Momentum Project.

© 2009 David J. Pollay. Distributed by North Star Writers Group. May not be republished without permission.

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