My dad died on the Dechutes river while fishing in 1968. The worst part was that I was in combat at the time. Came home on emergency leave in time for the funeral. Never had my heart broken so bad. He drowned at a place called Shearer's bridge on the lower Dechutes. My younger brother had to witness the accident. My step father who later adopted me, died in the VA hospital in 2001 about two weeks before 9-11. So, no, I never really had a father who could help me with that or much of anything else. My adopted father did give me his Trail Blazer seats in about 1987, which I am eternally grateful for. I've been going to games since, and including, 1970. Now, I'm the proud owner of six great seats. Started out on the center line of section 1 in the Memorial Coliseum. I watched the construction of the Memorial Coliseum. I've had way more than my share of horrific experiences having three close loved ones literally die in my arms, with my brother coughing up blood on me as he died, and a gut wrenching divorce but none were as bad as the loss of my father on that fishing trip.
BUMP My wife and I are revisiting the possibilities again. She's wanted to to to Italy again (I've never been), but darned if Croatia isn't beckoning. This thread was posted nearly 2 years ago, obviously, pre-COVID. Not really sure what to expect at this point.
