FATHER FIGURE

Growing up without a father is common these days but unfortunately male role models like Michael Gross are not. Since I didn't have a dad and a mom that worked all the time I really turned to the only other thing that understood me: television to find the lessons that men could teach. Michael Gross was that guy. He played Steven Keaton, father of three and husband of Elise. He was liberal, worked for P.B.S. and seemed like an all around good guy. Those of you that watched Family Ties remember him. Remember the season when he grew the beard out of nowhere. He actually got funnier. Of course everyone was in the shadow of Michael J. Fox but hey, that's the way it was. Peace and Good cheer to Michael Gross as one of the men that taught me how to b a man at a young age. "ta -da-da"