Ronda's Grocery... This is My Legacy

The picture below is my favorite softball memento

My Father Samuel Ronda is the last person standing in top row

When I used to live at my old apartment in New York I had this picture of my father and uncles Old School softball team, Ronda's Grocery,  hung up on the wall and used to have visitor play "Pick my father out" as the joke was all Hispanics look alike.... Lol

For the Record, Astrid, my wife, picked my father on the 1st try - destiny

Sam Ronda - far right

I guess this picture is my softball beginning.

My legacy.

I guess this picture is my Softball Legacy. My beginning.


Love it.

I've been looking at it a lot lately as after a brave 7 year battle with a rare form of gall bladder cancer my Father, Samuel Ronda, passed away last Wednesday

Samuel Ronda September 2013 with his Granddaughters

Sorry for another obituary blog everyone, in fact this isn't an obituary it's just the Truth. I wish I could do a top ten, a voice over, a rant, but all I have is the Truth and I just gotta get this off my chest.

My father was a good guy, loved by his family, popular in the neighborhood, a hustler and he made his mistakes. Plenty of them, but he did the best he could as he was able to provide me with a home and an education. Yet despite living with and knowing him my whole life we had issues. We weren't close, but we were also not far. Sometimes father and sons just can't , I don't know , just can't... connect/bond.

We both wasted a lot of years.

Some of it was his fault.

Some of it was mine.

Ironically, I respected him more in the last seven years as he truly enjoyed life, was not afraid, and until recently had a very good quality of life. He was a warrior.

I saw this coming and I was ready, regardless those father-son scars stay with you and so does the regret. All I can do going forward is take the good he gave me and learn from the mistakes we both made. I won't waste years or time with Alexandra and Caley

It won't be easy, but I will connect with them. I don't want to feel this regret again. It's empty. I hate empty.


Our time together may be over but their still can be good done both personally and for others. Cancer is relentless and does not discriminate. I have already begun plans to form a Charity cancer tournament next year because we all know it's more than just game. Details will come in 2014 as I know all my softball warriors out there will go to battle against this dreadful disease.

Don't worry Pops, Ronda's Grocery will play again

and someday we will play together again

This is my legacy.