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Dad surprised by his 3 kids with final family carpool before retirement
In honor of their dad’s retirement, a group of siblings teamed up to plan a surprise reminiscent of some of their most treasured childhood memories.
Matt Houlihan, from San Jose, California, came up with an idea to celebrate his dad working 41 years at Saint Francis High School in Mountain View, California, the same school he, his brother and sister attended.
A TikTok trend inspired Matt Houlihan to do something special for his dad, with a special Houlihan family twist, he said.
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“I was scrolling TikTok a week before, [and] I saw a video on a group of grandkids showing up and surprising their grandparents for a sleepover. That kind of got the wheels turning for me, and my dad’s retirement was coming up. And I wanted to do something special for him,” Matt Houlihan told Fox News Digital.
Matthew Houlihan (right) teamed up with siblings Kelsey Houlihan (middle) and Brian Houlihan (back right), and surprised their dad, Tim Houlihan (left), with one last carpool on his final day working as a school teacher. (Matt Houlihan)
Matt Houlihan’s idea required his two older siblings, Brian Houlihan and Kelsey Houlihan, to wake up early with him and show up to their parents’ home. The idea was to take one final carpool with their dad, like they did when they were kids.
The three siblings decided to go all out by looking back at some of the “rituals” they developed all those years traveling to school in the car with their dad.
“For about eight years, my dad was driving all of us up to high school,” Matt Houlihan shared.
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“And, in that time, obviously, you kind of developed some routines and rituals.”
Matt Houlihan reflected on all the time he spent in the car with his siblings and dad and thought it would be a great idea to pay homage to those memories. (Matt Houlihan)
After working out the logistics for the surprise, like figuring out how their own kids would get to school, the siblings finally worked together with their mom, Stephanie Houlihan, to make the surprise a success.
The Houlihan children showed up to their family home at 6 a.m. and met their dad with their backpacks, ready to make a trip filled with memories.
They made a playlist, including the songs they’d listen to with their dad while carpooling to school when they were younger, the No. 1 song being “Hey Ya” by Outkast, which was a No.1 hit on the Billboard charts in the early 2000s.
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“At one point, my dad had a CD that was just Outkast’s ‘Hey Ya’ on repeat. So, literally, it was 21 Outkast ‘Hey Ya’ songs burned onto a CD, and we listened for, like, I think, for probably six months. That’s the only thing we listened to in the car,” Matt Houlihan said.
“He always just wants to help everyone who is around him.”
The next family stop was their favorite bagel shop, House of Bagels, before heading to school and pulling into the same parking spot they had throughout high school.
When the three kids were in school, Tim Houlihan would send them off to class by reciting a quote from the classic film, “The Princess Bride.”
“He would always send us off by saying, ‘Have fun storming the castle,’” Matt Houlihan said, adding that he and his siblings repeated it before their dad walked into his final day of work.
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Tim Houlihan spent 41 years at Saint Francis High School in various roles, starting as a math teacher and bus driver and moving through positions such as office coordinator for the football team and athletic director.
Tim Houlihan retired after 41 years at Saint Francis High School and found himself wearing all sorts of hats and stepping into various roles throughout his time at the school. (Matt Houlihan)
He served as dean of students and the gold coach before finally settling into the role of construction management for new projects on the school’s campus.
“We actually got to walk through the last building that he just completed, which was super cool just to see the final kind of crown jewel piece of the campus that he coordinated and helped build,” Matt Houlihan said.
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“And, obviously, then [we] just got to see all the people coming up and saying congratulations to him and seeing all of his at-work relationships like we used to when we were [students] there.”
The Houlihan siblings captured the video of their dad’s final day of school and shared it on TikTok. (Matt Houlihan)
Matt Houlihan said he and his brother and sister loved celebrating their dad, someone who they always thought of as a “servant leader.”
“He always just wants to help everyone who is around him,” he said, adding that his dad would appreciate his colleagues each year by bringing plates of food to the school security guards who were working the night shift on holidays.
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He has always looked up to both of his parents for the way they care for others. And he saw that in the response of those at the school who said their farewells to his dad on his last day by showing their appreciation for all he did, some even getting emotional saying how much he affected them.
“He would always send us off [to school] by saying, ‘Have fun storming the castle.’”
Matt Houlihan is now appreciating those special carpools with his father, especially now that he is a parent to two little girls.
“Being a parent and getting to take your kids to school or taking them to sporting events, you know, those are always the [moments] where so much came out of those conversations in those car drives because, as kids, sometimes you take it for granted that you could spend that time with your parents.”
Tim Houlihan drove into retirement with kids by his side, just as they did when they were younger. (Matt Houlihan)
While Tim Houlihan may no longer use “The Princess Bride” quote with his kids, his youngest son Matt is passing that tradition onto his little girls.
“I always tell them, ‘Have fun storming the castle,’ and then I drop them off at school, so that [the tradition is] carried,” Matt Houlihan said.
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Cross that big street
Major arteries like Market Street and Van Ness constitute mental borders for many drivers. If your destination is near a popular street, aim for the other side of it, where there’ll typically be more vacancies.
Stray uphill
Hills, too, create mental obstacles for people looking for parking. If you’re willing to walk up one of San Francisco’s many hills either before or after the show, you’ll find more spots.
Always check signs
Pay attention to posted time restrictions to avoid tickets. Some meters in San Francisco mercilessly run until 10pm. Also, street cleaning hours can start at 12am, before some shows get out.
Know when you’re beaten
Some neighborhoods are hopeless. North Beach, Nob Hill, Divisadero — forget about it. The sooner you accept this, the more inner peace you will find.
Trust your gut
I acknowledge that I am a 6’1” man, and not everyone feels as comfortable as I do walking alone at night. If you’re not a local, and you’re feeling unsure, read up on the neighborhood beforehand.
Realize the ‘right’ way can be painful too
If you’re tempted to suck it up and pay for a parking lot or garage, remember: after the show, you may be stuck for a long time in a parking-lot traffic jam as cars try to get out all at once.
Okay! On with my list, with suggested free parking areas marked red.
Where to find parking for Davies Symphony Hall, War Memorial Opera House, Herbst Theater or Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
East side of Gough Street, between Golden Gate and McAllister
Pro tip: Park on the left side of the street. Quick eats to go are almost nonexistent in the area, so pick up any pre-show provisions you may need at the Super Sam corner store.
Where to find parking for SFJAZZ, Rickshaw Stop or Mr. Tipple’s Jazz Club
North side of Oak Street between Buchanan and Octavia
Pro tip: The right lanes are almost always congested due to the upcoming freeway onramp. Watch for cars speeding down the hill behind you in the left lanes, and nose in rather than backing into the spot, if possible.
Where to find parking for the Castro Theater
Castro Street, between 14th and 16th
Pro tip: Separated from the Castro by Market Street, and up the hill a little, most people don’t think of parking here. I found a cool old metal dustpan on the street here once. Still use it.
Where to find parking for the Chapel
South Van Ness Avenue between 17th and 21st
Pro tip: Parking in the Mission District can be maddening; find solace on either the east or west side of the main artery on the edge of the neighborhood. Say hi to Whiz Burger for me.
Where to find parking for the Great American Music Hall
Franklin Street between Ellis and Geary
Pro tip: I’ve also found Geary Boulevard, between Van Ness and Franklin, to usually have open spots. (Plus, you’re right next to Tommy’s Joynt for post-show eats.)
Where to find parking for the Regency Ballroom
Franklin Street between Post and Bush
Pro tip: Separated from the venue by Van Ness, and up the hill a little, most people don’t think of parking here. Aim for the left side of this one-way thoroughfare, where parking is usually more open. Pour one out for the closed Walgreens.
Where to find parking for Mabuhay Gardens or On Broadway
Leavenworth Street between Francisco and Chestnut
Pro tip: Trying to find parking in North Beach is like repeatedly hitting yourself in the face with a hammer for a half hour. I park an entire mile away, and enjoy the walk along Columbus, which is teeming with action on weekends.
Where to find parking for the Midway
Illinois Street between 23rd and 25th
Pro tip: Do not be seduced by the road leading toward Pier 80; it looks wide open, but is full of private parking, and Pier 80 itself will be closed off.
Where to find parking for Chase Center
16th Street between Carolina and Connecticut
Pro tip: For concert parking, the Chase Center garage currently charges $75. Ahem. I think you’ll agree that a nice 10-minute stroll down 16th Street is a better alternative.
Where to find parking for the Bottom of the Hill
16th Street between Carolina and Connecticut
Pro tip: Parking’s not nearly as plentiful as it used to be here; be aware of the new-ish protected bike lanes on 17th and the many time restrictions. (Also, bring presents for the excellent staff at one of the city’s best clubs before it closes at the end of the year.)
Where to find parking for the Fillmore
Geary Boulevard between Divisadero and Scott
Pro tip: I agonized for years driving in circles on neighborhood streets until finding this wonderful stretch of Geary, down the road and on a slight curve, where no one thinks to park.
Where to find parking for the Warfield
Folsom Street between 7th and 6th
Pro tip: This one’s tough, being close to both Union Square and the Tenderloin. I shoot for the less-populated area south of Market and walk up 6th Street, home of harm-reduction services, pizza-by-the-slice joints, SROs and Tú Lan.
Where to find parking for the Brick and Mortar Music Hall or Public Works
Gough Street between Market and McCoppin
Pro tip: This is on an odd little diagonal block that’s off of most people’s radar, on the other side of a freeway overpass. It’s never let me down.
Where to find parking for Oracle Park
Harrison Street between 3rd and 4th
Pro tip: Optimal ballpark spots used to change each year. In a coincidence that I won’t overanalyze, I’ve had luck parking on this block ever since Buster Posey left the Giants in 2021.
Where to find parking for the Masonic
Van Ness Avenue or Franklin Street between Sacramento and Pine
Pro tip: Sorry, man. You will not find parking on Nob Hill. You can try driving up California while looking for a spot, but likely, you’ll have to head back and make the five-block walk.
Where to find parking for August Hall
Mission or Howard Streets, between 5th and 6th
Pro tip: The “park up the hill” trick doesn’t work here, since the nearby hill is Nob Hill. If you strike out on Mission or Howard, Folsom is often open.
Where to find parking for the DNA Lounge
Treat Street between Florida and Alameda
Pro tip: Luckily the DNA is surrounded by a pretzel of strange, short, wiggly streets, good for finding parking; head south of the freeway overpass to this hidden curve. (It’s where I parked when I saw Prince at the tiny club in 2013; yes of course I am bragging.)
Where to find parking for Golden Gate Park, Outside Lands or Hardly Strictly
Clement Street between 34th and 38th
Pro tip: The best way to get to these festivals is to throw a bike in the trunk, park near Ocean Beach, and ride in past the bison to the free bicycle parking area. Barring that, your other best bet is to park up the (very) steep hill, near the VA hospital.
Where to find parking for the Cow Palace
Geneva Avenue between Stoneridge and Carter
Pro tip: I don’t really have a pro tip for this one. I just want to say that there should be more concerts at the Cow Palace, which is cool as hell.
Where to find parking for Stern Grove
Portola Drive between San Fernando and Santa Clara
Pro tip: Park across the major artery of 19th, and up the hill a little bit. And, since Stern Grove concerts always take place on Sundays, there are no two-hour parking restrictions to contend with.
Where to find parking for the Independent
Divisadero Street between O’Farrell and Turk
Pro tip: You’ll have to go back in time to when you could park at the DMV lot, because this neighborhood is impossible now. I go down the hill a ways, and usually find a spot north of Primo Pizza.
Where to find parking for the Black Cat
East side of Van Ness Avenue, between Turk and Ellis
Pro tip: Aim for Van Ness, the west boundary of the Tenderloin. For a major thoroughfare, Van Ness often surprises me with open spots, especially on the east side heading north.
Where to find parking for Cafe du Nord or Swedish American Hall
16th Street between Guerrero and Sanchez
Pro tip: Once the daycare that’s just east of Dolores on 16th closes for the day, the white curb — which tends to scare off many drivers — is free for you to park at. Bonus points for the view of the Mission Dolores basilica, just a beautiful building.
The SF venues you don’t need my help parking at
King County Metro will run two free shuttles in downtown Seattle this summer. The Waterfront Shuttle will operate everyday between May 21 and September 7. Buses will arrive every 15 minutes from 10am to 10pm.
This route travels between the Chinatown/ International District and Seattle Center, via Pioneer Square, the waterfront (Alaskan Way), and Belltown.
On days with a FIFA World Cup match, Metro will also run a Match Day Shuttle. The Match Day shuttle will run every 3-7 minutes on the dates listed below. This route runs between Seattle Stadium (Lumen Field) and Seattle Center, via 3rd Ave.
The Match Day shuttle operates on: Both shuttle routes are free and will use ADA accessible buses. Everyone is welcome onboard, not just those attending the World Cup matches.
This is an open thread.
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