Top Coach

I don't add many entries to this blog but I felt compelled to take care of this one, having just returned from the event that inspired it. When I was told that Ashley and I were invited to a party at our church with an 80s theme, I could think of no better idea than to borrow from an idea I'd seen pulled off by a friend of mine up at Reel FX, Justin Harder. The idea: 80s Coach.

So I borrowed the blue stretchy shorts and ridiculously tall socks. I borrowed the awesome white coaches shirt with 'Jeff' on the front. But there were a few items missing. I needed some 80s-style tennis shoes, and one of those old baseball hats with the mesh backing I had worn time and time again on the dusty plains of Midland ball fields.

I couldn't find either, so in passing I mentioned my idea to Ashley, who in turn mentioned that my dad had left some shoes in the upstairs closet (no idea why). They were perfect. They were probably even purchased in the early 80s. A late-night trip to the local Salvation Army yielded the perfect hat to finish it off. Here's the complete look:



So this evening when I put my whole 80s coach ensemble together, when I took a good look in the mirror, when I realized that the hat I'd purchased by chance was in fact a Phillips 66 hat, and even later that night after spending the evening in those clothes and in that role, I realized something.

In my mind, I wasn't really aiming to model after an 80s coach after all.

I was aiming to model after my greatest hero: my dad.

Maybe the silly clothes in today's society aren't the most appropriate tribute (or maybe they are), but I've done pretty well following in my dad's figurative shoes so far and I'm going to stay true with that direction. And I have a feeling I'm going to need those shoes in a few years for my own son.

Oh...and by the way my dad rarely loses in competitive games. It's no surprise my get-up won me the title of 80s Prom King.