I lost my old man in 1993 when I was 17. It took a good five years before dwelling on it wouldn't bring me to tears. I still miss him, still wish I could talk to him, but the deep pain and sorrow is gone for the most part. Every time I go back home, I'll look up one of my Dad's three or four best friends. The guys he grew up with, the guys he partied with when he was young. The guys he would go to for advice when he was first dating my Mom. I'll go hang out with em, and get em to reminisce about all the good times they had with my Dad. It's like a reunion except my brothers and I take the place of our old man. Now a days thinkin bout my Dad might still bring an occasional tear, but it's a tear of pride and joy. Knowin wherever he is how proud my Dad is of me today, and the joy of how lucky I was that he was my Dad. If I could go back and have God give me a choice at birth whether or not he would be my Dad, even knowing that he would be gone in 17 years, I wouldn't change a damn thing!!!

Our society likes to talk up heroes, all you guys who have fulfilled your responsibilities as fathers are heroes in my book, and even more so to your sons and daughters. Right on gentlemen!!! Whatever your sons and daughters accomplish is your accomplishment as well. My old man never graduated college and the furthest he ever advanced in his career was to manage a transmission shop. As a father he has earned the scroll of the 75th Ranger Regiment, Naval Aviator's wings, the Navy SEAL Trident, and a whole mess of pretty respectable college degrees. More importantly, my two brothers, my two sisters, and perhaps even me for the most part, are people of sound mind and good character.

I hope my rambling lets you Dad's know how much you've meant to somebody. Happy Father's Day!!!