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Byron, I'm sorry for your loss, it's very humbling to look back and see the impacts of what our parents did for us and taught us.

And it's good to remember.

Over 43 years ago since my dad passed.
I can't help but think of all the things he's missed and would have loved.
He was very artistic and could work in almost any medium, charcoal, oil paintings, watercolor, beautifully tooled leather pictures, holsters, purses, wallets and belts.
He was also a life long learner, a boxer, ice skater, writer (wrote for the High Plains Journal in the early 60's) and photographer, his assignment's in WW2 was to photograph all kinds of events from the glass nose of various B-17's.
He was very adventurous with a keen sense of direction.

He would have loved the Internet's access to to the Smithsonian (a favorite place of his) and so much more...

I got my love of photography and adventuring from him, pretty much none of his artistic abilities or sense of direction (thank heavens for compass's and good maps).

I'm confident he and my Son would have had some terrific discussions and I see that many of dad's talents are prevalent in him.

He battled multiple disease's and mental issues. His final months were exceptionally difficult... I drove him to Dr. appointments for chemo when it was still being developed. Those were awful times, in the end his passing was a blessing.

He was 52 when he passed, I've outlived him by a decade already.
I remember how strange it was and still is to realize how lucky I am to have good health and the ability to keep on adventuring.
I'm also lucky to have gotten Mom's sensibilities when it come's to finances... he was terrible with money!