Father and Son, College, Giancarlo Stanton, and Kit Kats

Father and Son, College, Giancarlo Stanton, and Kit Kats

By Paul Semendinger

Originally Published: August 18, 2018

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Earlier today, my wife and I brought our son Ethan (a big Yankees fan and the Design Manager and frequent contributor to this site) back to college for his sophomore year.

I’m always a bit emotional and sad when I leave my kids at college. A part of me always feels empty when I contemplate the weeks and months that they’ll be away. I love when my sons are home, they make our home complete.

I think the best part of my life is just being Dad.

At these times, as I eventually leave, I sometimes cry.

No, that’s a lie.

I always cry. Every single time.

This afternoon, after helping Ethan move his belongings into his dorm room, where he’ll be serving as a Resident Advisor (says the Proud Dad), we all went to the grocery store to stock up on the necessary foods for college.

As we reached the checkout line, the Kit Kats on display caught my eye and I recalled a moment from earlier in the summer when the whole family laughed together when we learned that Giancarlo Stanton doesn’t know the proper way to eat a Kit Kat bar. (See here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gHOTxlPRSo and the photo clip below.)

Remembering this, I quickly threw two Kit Kats onto the checkout line conveyor belt. As I did this, I said to Ethan, “These are for us. One for you and one for me. The next time Stanton homers, we’ll eat these his way.”

Well, tonight, Ethan’s first night at college as he begins his sophomore year, Giancarlo didn’t make us wait very long to enjoy some delicious chocolate.

Late in the game, Stanton hit a monster blast deep into the seats. As he rounded the bases, the phone rang…

“Hey Dad, did you see it?”

And with that, across the many miles between home and a college dorm, a father and a son were able to bridge the gap as they each shared in the simple delight of a candy bar – Giancarlo Stanton Style.

Hey, Ethan! I miss you! Study hard and make me proud (as you always do). I love you!

(I need to close this post now, the screen is getting blurry and my keyboard seems to be getting wet…)