My Dad's Birthday

So my dad's birthday was this week, he would be turning 75. We lost him to cancer. It is still hard to talk about him without getting emotional. He was a great example for me. I try to work hard like he did, have great integrity and a love of life. I also hope to have a sweet head of hair like his when mine turns silver.

One of the personal projects I took on after he passed away was to digitize all the slides he took while he was in the Navy and my parents early married life. There were over a thousand, and it took a while to do. I was the seventh child and I don't remember my dad younger than 50, but after scanning all those slides, it helped me to relate him to my age. In other words I can picture him going through some of the same things I am going through and dealing with some of the same issues and struggles. It makes the advice I did get from him that much more important.

I really miss the advice. He was great at giving advice without trying to sell you. He just made observations from his life and let you figure it out from there. I could really use some of his advice lately. Most people have something to sell or don't actually give a flying leap about what's best for me and my family.

I will have to share some stories from growing up. He didn't always get the nerdy introverted kid, but he tried, he even played Halo on my XBox once. That was funny, but so was me trying to find a wrench I had never heard of in his toolbox. I have a million stories but it is getting late and I can't be grouchy tomorrow.

I plan on dropping some of my favorite photos from the scans up here every once in a while for the family to check out. Maybe I can share stories then as well.

I love and miss you dad. I am trying to make you proud.