In Loving Memory.

My father died 10 years ago on September 19th, 1998 from an aggressive brain tumor. He was buried on his birthday, September 26th.

As our family celebrated my niece Savanna's birthday on Sunday, my sister-in-law Mary's birthday on Tuesday and Alan and I's anniversary on Wednesday, I reflected on the life and death of my father and how he is missing from these celebrations. In tribute to him, I am reflecting on the things that I either learned from him or miss about him.

Things I learned from my Dad:
1) How to balance a checkbook
2) How to multiply by 1.064 to figure tax on an item in one step instead of two. (I think of my Dad nearly daily as I teach this to my students).
3) Be proud of who you are.
4) Personalize your license plate. (Note the plate on his casket)
5) How important it is to keep dollar bills facing in one direction in your wallet.
6) Family is more important than work.
7) How to get along with almost anyone.
8) How to be enraged if someone wrongs your child.
9) Your most important accomplishment in life will be as a parent.

Things I miss about my my Dad:
1) His stories. He was a fantastic story teller. My favorite bedtime stories were about the princess and the pea and his "true" story about the little green man from the moon who landed in his backyard needing cheese for his UFO.
2) His smile and embrace.
3) His dry sense of humor.
4) His wisdom.
5) Just about everything.

Love you Dad. Happy Birthday.