I haven’t made any posts in over a month, so let me tell you why. My life has changed. I lost my Dad on March 11. Ever since then I haven’t really had a desire to write anything. But you know, it really would do his memory a disservice to not express my beliefs and opinions. He may have been a quiet man, but he didn’t mind voicing his beliefs. He was a hard worker and his life showed his beliefs. He was a great Christian man who worked hard in his church and never complained when someone asked him for help — especially us kids. He did more for me than I have room to share — I never sat down and thought about how much until he died.
He was also a conservative — and he liked to share his thoughts and opinions on different subjects. He would forward e-mails to me about different political issues and current events. A few of those I even blogged about. He even went with me to WordCamp Dallas 2008. He didn’t attend the conference, but he went anyway to keep me company. He absolutely refused to take the car, telling me that I needed to drive it to and from the meetings. Instead, he walked around the area where our hotel was and took in the sights of Dallas while I was in the meetings. He even helped me with the meals, gas, and driving when he didn’t have to. We had a good time — just father and son. I will never forget that trip for as long as I live. I’m glad he was able to go with me, and I’m glad we shared that experience.
This past weekend was WordCamp New Orleans, and I fully intended to go. But with everything going on recently, it was better that I didn’t. I don’t know if I’ll get to attend the Dallas WordCamp this year, and I don’t know if I want to. But I tell you what I will do: I will continue blogging. I will make this not about me, but about the ideals and beliefs my Dad stood for and what he taught me. I’ve learned a lot about him in the past month - things he’s done for people, more about his plans and goals, and how much we’re alike.
This may become partly a personal journal, also. There will be times that I write posts and lock them so that no one ever reads them but me. But I want to make sure to remember him, remember what he stood for, so that one day my children will have the chance to get to know their grandfather. I think that’s one of the most unfortunate things. My children, should my wife and I have some, will never know my father — their grandfather — at least not in person. But they will know his legacy.
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