In A Family’s Heartbreak: A Parent’s Introduction to Parental Alienation, there’s a story about my alienated son refusing to attend a New York Yankees baseball game because, well, he was alienated. 

His rejection that night hit me especially hard because the New York Yankees and Yankee Stadium is something my Dad shared with me, and something I wanted to share with my sons. Dad took me to my first Yankees’ game at the pre-renovated ”old” stadium in the 1960s. I wanted to give my sons the same fond memories of attending a game with their Dad that my Dad gave me.

George Steinbrenner, owner of the New York Yankees, died today. The Boss’ death comes two days after the death of long-time Yankee Stadium public address announcer Bob Sheppard. The House that Ruth Built is also gone – replaced last year by a “new” Yankee Stadium.

As alienated parents we often think of our children as if time stands still. We picture them as they looked the last time we were together. In our minds, they have the same friends and interests too. We’re well aware that months, and even years, have passed since we’ve seen them, but a small part of us wants to believe that one day we can pick up right where we left off.

Father Time constantly reminds us that nothing stays the same. Today George Steinbrenner entered the ranks of Yankees mythology. We’ll talk about him in the past tense — just like we talk about Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio and Mantle. Maybe one day I’ll attend a game with my son and tell him how I was sitting in the stands at the Old Timer’s Game when George brought Billy back, but it won’t be the same. The Boss is gone. The old stadium is gone. My son’s childhood is gone. Time marches on.