Today is March 10th. My dad would have been 69 today. We lost him a couple of years ago to cancer. He put up a brave fight but in the end it got him.

My dad was always filled with a smile even up to the end. I spent much of the last month of his life working from his home and helping to take care of him. It wasn’t easy to watch him waste away. He would get up and greet me with a smile and I would help him to a chair where he’d promptly fall back asleep after his medication. He would always wake up with a smile and we’d talk as long as he was able and then he’d fall back asleep. This cycle was hard to handle for both of us.

It’s hard to say what I miss most about my dad. My parents had divorced when I was very young and my relationship with him didn’t begin until I was in ky teens. Even then I was more into my life and thinking about my freedoms instead of spending time with dad.

Once I graduated from high school all I wanted to do was be out of the house and on my own. I did that. I would call monthly, but I was never close as I could have been. I don’t think it was until I got married and had my favorite daughter that I really appreciated my dad.

One of the thing I miss most about my dad is his storytelling. Funny how it wasn’t until I was older that I figured out he was either telling me an urban legend putting himself in the story or he was just exaggerating the truth. He love to do that. He also loved telling shaggy dog stories. Those really long jokes that lead up to a really bad pun.

Beyond the jokes and exaggerations he always had stories about people he’d met or done business with. He had started the same business three times in his life and made it successful each time. The first iteration had him traveling the world making contacts in the business. This gave him a comfortable and confident presence whenever he came into a room filled with people.

I try to emulate that confidence when I’m faced with crowds or big groups. I don’t try to be the center of attention, but instead try to insert myself into a situation that helps me be memorable without going overboard. I don’t always succeed but hey, I try 🙂

I will post more on my dad in the future.

As for writing: I managed to get 4000 words out yesterday. Not just 4000 words but a good 4000 words. I hit a flow yesterday and I wasn’t going to stop until I had to. To Fall From The Sky is really shaping up and I love the direction.

I am now 10 days ahead of my annual goal and it seems that the more often I write the more and faster I write. Gee. Imagine that. LoL.

I have been using and am still getting used to scrivener. I think now that I’m understanding it a little better I’m liking it more and more. There are a few things I’ve found that will take getting used to and I’m sure I can adapt.

Today my favorite daughter has a volleyball tournament. They are starting soon so I’d better go.

Until Tomorrow!

Woo Woo!