My dad passed away this week

[RJ]

He died Sunday of a heart attack. He was 69, still young by today's standards. He suffered from diabetes and high blood pressure, was overweight and wouldn't give up his cigars. He probably could have lived longer but he was stubborn. I can't blame him for that, he went out on his own terms.

I never knew my dad as well as I'd have liked. My parents divorced when I was still a baby and he stayed in Kentucky after we moved away. I generally saw him in the summers only. Still, I always liked him and loved him and was proud of him. He came from parents who didn't have enough education between them to earn a HS diploma and barely got one himself. He was wild and reckless in his younger days but eventually got his shit together enough to own a couple of very succesful businesses in the same town he grew up in. In later life he taught me some invaluable lessons. Some were about business but most were about life in general, about how to treat others and how to expect to be treated.

He was a very well liked and respected man and the funeral was evidence of that. Between the viewing and the funeral I estimate about 800 people attended. I have no idea how many of them - most of whom I didn't know - came up to shake my hand and tell me what a great man he was. A lot of them were customers from his bar. Maybe they owed him money. My stepmom and half siblings, who live there, had all thought maybe a couple of hundred people would come. It turned out there was a line around the building that lasted for three hours. Guess that's the result of treating people right and maintaining roots for a lot of years.

Anyway, I just wanted to say something about my dad and I figured The Planet was the place to do it. I could go on but I won't. Thanks for indulging me and the next time you see your dad, give him a hug.

[cdcox]

RJ, I'm sorry for your loss. Your dad obviously made an impact. I'm glad that you have good memories of your father. This tread is a great tribute to him. God bless.