TOP FLITE ~ By Absolutely*Kate of Harbinger*33

ON THE GREEN ~ Pic ala kailavanfossan

TOP FLITE

By ~ Absolutely*Kate

It used to be Titleist. Then the urge came to pass on the desire for "The Ball Choice of the Tour Professional". He was. He is. Professional and personal in every scorecard stroke of the periphery. No bogeys. All class on the grass, be it rough or well-trimmed.

So that's what she bought him ~ for birthdays, for Christmases, Valentine's Days, and for Father's Day of course, she stayed the course. Pretty easy on the what-to-get purchase list, and a cinch to wrap in the funny parts from Sunday's paper or later in life, in appropo bright zingy wrapping paper with a cheery centered blue bow. She'd add other treats of course, chocolate covered peanuts, a sports or life intriguing book, yet another Pittsburgh Steelers' prized piece of paraphernalia, a framed creation . . . but the box of Top Flites was always and ever a best appreciated need that would get plenty of use, stir immense pride and strivings on long range driving. You could say this gift was par for the course. 

He gave her love and protection, insight through laughter and a life-long attraction towards the innate goodness in all people you come across in the adventure of a day. He took a Dale Carnegie course once during early supervisory Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company days and shared his homework when she eagerly waited up in skyblue PJ's for that night's exciting return. Oh how he loved excelling at learning each new idea, skill or thrill. He shared the seminar session's lessons - the fine art of association-memorization, the reinforcement of positive thought to action, and both of their favourites -- hitting a rolled up newspaper on the table in the morning, shouting out loud, "It's going to be a GREAT DAY!" Amazing how the enthuse of laughter accompanying any reach beyond mere normality . . . makes the desired outcome have all the better chances.

 

Fortune favours the prepared mind, and his always was, cliche-inclusive, working smarter not harder, knowing Lombardi's "It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up" that counts. He stayed up, never complained nor let loose a negative thought. He encouraged without words, and his words were his noble bond.

He teased and he pleased. He was loved for 57 married and 3 dating years by his devoted Franny and forever onward by she and their thriving jiving five. He listened; he let you think your way through your thinking and then released the ultimate trophy: "Now you got it Kid!" He worked right alongside you before silently disappearing, getting you started in whatever job made something better at where you were at - picking up the front yard's grass-cuttings, stocking and blocking A&P shelves, painting a room, changing a tire, hosing your first prized red camauro, or his oft prized red tomatoes, peppers, cantaloupes and strawberries. He was garden, golf, gridiron, great father, grandfather, guts, gumption and grins. Oh those grins.

Got 'em inside me now.

So many folks ~ the kind he'd really want to have amble over to his back patio in Ohio for a cup of coffee and a poured conversation have reached me, the giver of Top Flites, about the legacy this semi-pro golfer and this all-pro Dad, hero and best friend has planted to grow on within me.

Thank*God they're right.

I'm goin' par for the course now too.

My father, Paul Pilarcik, lived vibrantly through the last day of summer, his season. Now that vibrancy, that spirit of strength lets me and swell-meaning multitudes know what Camus wrote is legacy-reality in Top Flite trajectory: 

   

"I finally knew in the depths of winter

there was within me

an invincible summer."
  

With still fresh tears, my gratitude is going long and going the distance, precious friends and treasured colleagues, in the way Paul would, from that always welcome patio ~ wholeheartedly.
   

Tis Top Flite soaring
  I was taught Life is all about.

I know it to be true ~

I wholeheartedly wish it unto you.

~ Absolutely*Kate, 
Paul's first kid