Matt Goodman Wanted To Share His First Beer With His Dad. He Got To Do It In A Miraculous Way
Sharing a 21st birthday beer with your father is a rite of passage for most American youth.
But what if your father has passed away before your 21st birthday arrives? For Matt Goodman, the rite of passage seemed impossible. His father passed away in 2014, when Matt was only 15 years old.
John Goodman, Matt’s father, was ever-present. He was at every sporting event, every school function, and every life event. “He was a huge goofball that would do anything in the world to make me happy.” Matt said of his larger-than-life dad.
So as Matt’s 21st birthday approached, he felt a sense of longing, wishing his dad could be there, just like he had been for every other birthday, until his life tragically ended.
What Matt didn’t know, what he couldn’t know, was that John Goodman had already planned on being there for his son’s birthday, only this time in spirit. John left a $10 bill with Matt’s mother, telling her to give it to their son for his first legal drink.
Matt’s mom and sister knew about this gift, but kept it a secret, waiting to deliver the gift as a surprise for his special day.
Budweiser Helps To Commemorate The Miraculous Event
“Knowing that he thought about a future big moment in my life meant everything, because even being gone he still did whatever he could to make my 21st birthday,” Goodman told CNN. “It was probably the best present I’ve ever gotten.” Matt shared this memory with the world on Twitter, and it became a viral sensation, even catching the attention of Budweiser. The company Tweeted back a message: “We’re raising one to your pops, Matt. He got your first beer and the next one’s on us.” They promptly sent Matt 8 cases of beer in honor of his father and this beautiful occasion.
