Very poignant and telling passage about your father and what he instilled in you. My father died suddenly a few years back. We grew up so poor, that I have to catch myself sometimes complaining about “only” having two phones or not being able to immediately purchase something that cost him two months’ gross salary when he worked.

Pardon the expression, but part of what he instilled in me was this: “Sh!t happens, and you work through it and keep going on.” As I’ve gotten older, it’s been humbling to see a lot of what he had us be and do make sense now as I’m in my early adult years.

To all fathers, past and present, be remembered, cherished, forgiven and a man having left a legacy.

Beautifully put. Your comment “Most importantly of all, he taught us that we are not the most important thing in the world” really resonates with me. My dad, also gone for some 16 years now, told my brother and I when we were kids: “Don’t think you’re anything special in this world. No one cares, except your mother.” To which my mom, listening in, added: “And maybe I don’t care either.” She was kidding of course, but with all the spoiled rotten people in this world, your dad, and mine, did us a great service. Enjoy your Father’s Day.

That was very touching. Makes me appreciate my dad more. Reminds me of most important thing in life … family

sounds like a true american, and a real believer in ayn rands objectivism…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Objectivism_(Ayn_Rand)