🎉Happy 75th birthday, Dad🎉

My Dad grew up in Staten Island. One of his HS friends let us stay at his house the night before the marathon. I was hesitant at first to accept the offer but my Dad insisted. The idea of staying closer to the starting line was comforting and my Dad offered to drive me over the night before. I told him I could go solo but he really wanted to go with me.

I was transparent with him that my nerves were high and I may shut down at some point and not talk with him. He knew this, as he was there the night before my surgery in 2017 as well. He said he was fine with that. So together we drove into to Staten Island the night before the marathon.

He gave me a tour around. We went by his childhood home, which also was the home he and my mom first lived in when they were first married. He showed me the schools he went to and had such joy taking me around his hometown.

Then, we went to visit the graves of all my grandparents. My Dad is a big family man in part because his dad passed when he was only seven. While we stood there together, I saw my strong father show his boy’s heart that day.

Even without the example of of father himself, my Dad became a great one. One who loves his family deeply, shows up to support his kids and his grandkids, and who chose to get stuck in Staten Island the day of the marathon so that his daughter could have greater peace.

Thanks, Dad for loving us deeply and for teaching us (with all your motivational tapes in the 80s) that with determination, drive, a plan (on a steno pad), the right attitude, and faith we are capable of doing things we didn’t think were possible.

Love you, Dad💙🙏🎉

PS In his retirement, he has written a trilogy of historical fiction books. Visit his website at www.peterjmarzano.com to learn more📚