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The Man, The Myth, The Legend: Coach G


Today is my father’s birthday.  I cannot think of a better day to give tribute to an amazing individual and role model.  This man is beloved by not only his daughters and wife but also, in my opinion, “a community.”   However, he would never admit that because he is much too humble. 
The love he possesses for his family, his career, and, life in general,  has made him a legend to many.  Growing up in and out of foster care from a young age, my father learned, in the simplest of terms, to appreciate everything in life.  I can truly say I cannot remember the last time my father has had a bad day and this year has been a tough one. 

It is because of my father that my tremor was first noticed and in turn diagnosed by a Pediatric Neurologist.  Sitting on the couch forcing my poor dad to watch some silly cartoon I’m sure, he looked at my mom and said, “Do you notice how Erika’s head always shakes back and forth when she watches television?” From there we went to four different doctors and finally got a proper diagnosis. That is how it all started.  

Many write to me and often say that having this condition is unfair; I cannot argue that fact. Having any medical condition that you are genetically or environmentally handed is 100% unfair.  The one person’s voice that echoes in my mind is my father’s.  He would tell me that everything happens for all the right reasons as he has told me since I was a child. It is easy to get wrapped up in the stares, the comments, the judgments and the negativity but you must be strong. 

It is more imperative for individuals with conditions like ourselves to be mentally strong than anything else because that negativity and those judgments are simply in our heads.  At the end of the day, whether people stare or not, who cares! The opinion that matters is yours and yours alone, another one of my father’s sayings.  (He really should write a book, but that’s just my opinion)

My father is man of wisdom.  He is man who endured hard experiences, but you wouldn’t know it.   He is a man of strength, both physically and mentally.  He is a teacher, a coach, a mentor, a father and so much more. I will forever be in awe of the accomplishments my father has achieved in his 64 years of living.  Happy Birthday to best father out there!  I cannot wait to celebrate so many more with you.  I just hope I am making you half as proud of me as I am proud to be your daughter. 






Love You Daddy! Happy Birthday! 

#HappyBithday #CoachG #Makeitagreatday #GoCards #Loveyou #FamilyFirst #Alwayssmiling #Essentialtremors #ETawareness #supportothers #trainhard #livelife #lovelife #alltherightreasons #loveyourself 

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