Dad

I've been struggling with what to say here for a while.  Your passing has been difficult for me.  I've lost others before, some close to me, some farther away.  But you're my father, my mentor, my teacher.  What to write, what to convey; something profound, something nice, something worthy.  It is a difficult thing to think about, let alone write down.  I want this to be positive, you were a positive influence on my life and thoughts.  This is what I have to offer in honor of you.

You've taught me so many things that gave me a head start in life.  How to think critically.  How to explore the creative avenues of my mind.  How to analyse and logically process the environments around me.  Personal responsibility and accountability.  And you gave me something that I find invaluable in this day and age, embracing and expanding common sense.  All these skills have made me who I am today.  An independant, self reliant, reasonably responsible human.  These are amazing lessons that were hard learned from you.

You also instilled a sense of fun and adventure in going about day to day life to me. Encouraging me to think and process that which I see, and deducing and resolving that which I do not.  You gave me the freedom to express myself and explore the world enriched with those lessons, but were always available when those things became overwhelming.

It will continue to amaze and inspire me the life you had.  Being born at the tail end of the great depression; growing up during World War II; witnessing of innovations and technologies that were unheard of and then taking over life.  I always love hearing your stories and thoughts on things, even if at times I seemed impatient.  I fear this is what I will miss most.  The perspectives you had of the evolving world.

Albatros, terrapin, mallard, widgeon and goose.

I love you, dad.  I will miss you.