It was 1972, and the rage for us 16-year-old teenage boys was the legendary film, “The Godfather!” It was all every young man could talk about. Every scene in the movie was talked about. The Corleone Family was more popular than the Brady Bunch. The problem for me was twofold. One, it was rated “R,” and I wasn’t 18. Two, my parents did not approve of “R” rated films. So, I found myself on the wrong side of the law, both temporal and spiritual. The solution: find someone who was older than 21 who would take me, and two, how to overcome my parents’ objection to seeing it.

One plan of mine had already failed. A friend of mine and I tried to stand outside a theater and convince some guy who was going in to be our ‘adult’ and take us in. We tried and failed. So, in my feverish mind, I tried to think of somebody I knew who was cool enough to be my ‘guardian angel’ and get me into the coolest movie of all time. I had a new brother-in-law who seemed pretty cool to me, so I asked him if he would take me. He didn’t miss a beat and told me, ‘Sure.’ I was ecstatic and overjoyed. So, I waited for my dad to come home and I sprung my plan on him. I remember vividly how it went.

Me: “Dad, I want to go see The Godfather?’

My Dad: “Well, you know, son, that movie is rated “R.” You would have to have some adult over 21 take you.”

Me: “I know. Mike said he would take me!”

I could tell my answer caught him off-guard.

Well, Mike and I went to see The Godfather, and after seeing it I was now part of the club of ‘cool’ kids who were in the know about Vito, Sonny, Michael and the rest of the Godfather characters. Whether I did the right thing is still under FBI investigation. How my father felt about my accomplice, Mike, never even crossed my mind.

I learned a couple of things from that experience. One- I had a ‘cool’ brother-in-law who continued to be ‘cool’ for the next 54 years. One who took an interest in my life. One I came to love and admire for his ‘coolness’ under pressure.

And two- I learned that my Dad was willing to give me some rope. I knew he disagreed with my decision, but he was very good at allowing me to exercise my agency within reason.

My Dad passed away a few years ago, and just this past week my ‘cool’ brother-in-law passed away peacefully in bed, without the company of a bloody horsehead I might add.

I will miss him a lot!  I’m sure that when the angel that the Lord sent down to get him attempted to take his hand, he put up a good fight to stay with his beloved wife and children. But in the end, I’m sure the Lord gave him an ‘offer he couldn’t refuse.”

 I will miss him! A lot! They ‘took the body, but he left the memories!”