FINDING OUR GROVE

Football connects family members in Gardner’s memoir of love, life, and unexpected challenges.

In the American college football circuit, each team and campus is anchored by traditions and mythmaking that can span generations and foster unbreakable bonds. That spirit permeates this memoir, which combines a father’s journey with his son, who has Down syndrome, and a study of aspects of American history. When Daniel was born in Ohio in 1998, the author wondered what the future might look like for his child, particularly when it seemed that so many were ready to write off a person with a genetic disorder. At the age of 12,Daniel joined the first of what became regular “guy trips” with his father, grandfather, and uncle. Together, they visited several Southern college towns to watch football games and soak up the local color. The trips ended up being about so much more than just gridiron action; in this recounting, the author shares the background of Tusk VI, the Arkansas Razorbacks’ beloved Russian boar mascot; descriptions of William Faulkner’s home, Rowan Oak, in Oxford, Mississippi; and information on the founding of the first presidential library—the James A. Garfield National Historical Site in Mentor, Ohio—among other bits of history. The book also effectively serves as a guide to the culinary gems of the South; the author showcases the Gardners’ appreciation for good food and offers mouthwatering accounts of meals in places such as the Mississippi-based hot-tamale joint, Doe’s Eat Place, and award-winning chef Hugh Acheson’s restaurant, Five & Ten, in Athens, Georgia; there’s even a recollection of a memorable breakfast at a Waffle House in Clemson, South Carolina. The “guy trips” are really about creating memories, and, as such, the book overflows with beautiful and tender reminiscences. Throughout, the author is open about grappling with the challenges of raising a son with Down syndrome, but Daniel’s joys and ambitions effectively shine through the entire work.

A heartwarming ode to a father’s love for his son and the road-trip experiences they’ve shared.