From A Son

It has been 26 years today.  You were now alive almost as long in my life as you have been dead.  What a strange number this is. 

There are a good number of positive things that you passed on to me (negative too but this is not the time or place to list them!).   Here are just a few as your candle burns significantly on my counter at home:

1.  You taught me to value the well-written word, phrase, passage, and extended text. 
2.  Books are important
3.  Nature can be found in your backyard. 
4.  Grow things
5.  Believe in  yourself it is not important in the end run what others say about you.  Define who you are via your actions and integrity.
6.  Read the manual
7.  Understand that you are no better than anyone you meet or deal with. 
8.  Work hard