The Man in the Blue Cap

A few weeks ago, I couldn’t wait to finish my Saturday long run/workout so I could attend a fun day in DeBardeleben Park in downtown Bessemer. Lawn chairs in tow, we arrived at the Bob Sykes BBQ & Blues Festival. As I was sitting down listening to the sounds of soulful blues, when HB asked me to pass him the camera so he could take some candid photos of the Blues party that was obviously going on. When he returned, he asked me to look through them. I scrolled through, then stopped at this one particular photo. My heart sunk…

Tears immediately started to form. They fell. I smiled…then peace came over me. HB was confused when I said, thank you. But I got it. It was an inside thing between me and God. He was showing me a glimpse of my Dad and letting me know that he’s always with me. Everything about this photo said: John Earl. I looked up and saw the man in the photo that looked exactly like my Dad sitting there–a beautifully seasoned, brown man. He had a few specks of wisdom peeping through the band of his navy blue cap. He also had on a baby blue button-down shirt very reminiscent of my Dad’s.

If my Dad were alive today, I would have thought that was him sitting there listening to the sounds of Eddie Cotton as he waited on my tardy self to arrive to the festival. Then he would have greeted me with, “You’re late!” and smile. Boy, did this man love barbeque! He also loved to grill and would do it all while listening to the Blues, especially Johnnie Taylor. I still can’t get the lyrics “There’s a cat named Jody” (from Jody’s Got Your Girl and Gone) out of my head to this day.

I miss him. I miss the early phone calls, the requests for a Coke and a Snickers Bar…and the…”Hey baby, let’s take a ride to the state-line to pick up lottery tickets”. I thank God for subtle reminders that my Dad is still watching over me.

Pops,

I love you. Happy Father’s Day!