HER LIFE Magazine

herlife | just sayin’Lessons FromMy Fatherby greg aidala | photography by james pentaudiThirty-one years ago this month, my forty-three year oldmother passed away from breast cancer, leaving behindher loving husband and eight children—four girls andfour boys. I’m number seven. My world suddenly changed theday she passed away; I can still recall the hollow silence thatresounded when our father gave us the news. An immediatevoid seemed to rain upon us.But with all storms, calm follows as a reminder that there is beautyeverywhere, even when death is taking up temporary residence. I recallmy father huddling all eight of us around him shortly after my motherdrew her last breath. His message: We must accept the cards we’vebeen dealt and stay together with teamwork and humor. Through theyears, his commitment of raising his team of eight has never faltered,not for one moment. To this day, I remain in awe of his ability to stayfocused and to nurture what’s important to him.My father has always been the voice of reason—always the ‘rock.’He is the strongest person I’ve met in all of my travels in this world.He has a calm, cool, humble demeanor about him, and a sense of witthat would impress Mark Twain. He’s a balanced man who believesstrongly in altruism and forgiveness. I haven’t met too many men whocan handle the awesome responsibility of running a family business(Quail Auto Sales) and raise eight children, all while trying to enjoythe life he’s been given.My father was always there for us growing up, whether it waschurch functions, the ball field or PTA meetings at school. (Usuallyafter those PTA meetings, he’d have to talk to me about my grades andwhy I was ‘always fooling around in school.’ Funny how things workout—now I get paid to fool around on stage.)We never heard our father complain. He provided a roof over ourheads, food on our plates, clothes on our backs, put us through collegeand married off four daughters. When he came home in the evening,he was always concerned about our day. Not once did he bring workhome with him—a massive skill trait in itself, especially for a businessowner.There are instances in this life that make you want to give up.When I’m visited by these challenges, I sit back and think of the obstaclesmy father has faced thus far in his selfless life. My favorite lineof his when someone is bothering me is, ‘Hey, at least you don’t haveto live with them.’ That makes me smile, and allows me to go backabout my day.There are many truisms and stories I could share here that perhapscould make you cry out of personal connection or just sheer joy.The one thing I do know for sure is that my father raised us out of love,and it is love that has sustained our relationship. I wish my father notonly a Happy Father’s Day, but also, that all of his days are happy. Hemost definitely deserves it. ■Greg Aidala is an award-winning comedian. He was voted ‘Best LocalComedian’ in Albany, New York, by the Times Union Readers Poll in 2007,2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. He was also voted ‘Best Local Comedian’ by theMetrolands Readers Poll in 2012. In 2005, he formed his entertainment company,Radial Gage Entertainment, and in 2006, he launched his professionaltraveling comedy showcase, ‘The Brew Ha-Ha.’ He conducts comedy-coachingseminars and can be seen in television commercials that air throughoutNew York State. To learn more about his entertainment career, please visitGREGAIDALA.com.42 HERLIFEnewyork.com