It's amazing to me how your life can be altered to the core, in the blink of an Eye. In November of this last year, my Father became ill. A little over a month later, I lost my father to Cancer. This was not his first brush with this particular beast. Almost 20 years ago, he beat Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. He was an amazing man. A quiet man, I don't remember ever hearing him raise his voice. He was the kind of man that went through life quietly, and was very happy to remain unnoticed. I never knew how much I depended on his quiet strength. My minister told me shortly after it happened, that I would find that the thing I missed the most would be the answers. You see, my Dad was the person I turned to for the answers to all my questions. Over the last few years, the relationship between us had changed. I could see the respect growing in his eyes for the kind of parent I was becoming. I always told myself that I wanted to be the kind of parent that he was. Firm, yet understanding. I could always count on him to listen to whatever question I had, or whatever trouble I had gotten into, then be able to help me to find the right answer. He always supported whatever crazy idea I was into, and always made me feel proud of the work that I did. He showed me, through his example, what a work ethic was.
As my son continues to grow, I hope that I can be half the father my Dad was.
Thanks Dad. Thanks for everything you did for me. I miss you every day.
