From Alexis

Happy birthday!!!!!! I hope you have a fantastic day! You're the best dad anyone could have and I wouldn't be the same person I am today if it wasn't for you! I know I mess up but I'm so grateful for what you do. Love you!! Have a GOOOD day!!

Happy veterans day! I know you served as the best dad in the Marines and the whole world appreciates you especially me!

Thank you for always being there for me and for helping me more than anyone else in my life ever has. You're truly the best dad I've ever had and I'm glad we got this figured out. I will do better about communication. it means a lot that you are proud.

From Dylan: On my Fathers Passing

I will do just that. Unfortunately thoughts of our loved ones can't keep their bodies on Earth forever...but they let their wisdom and life lessons pass to us. Grandpa Bill was strong because of his father and I know you'll make him proud continuing his legacy.

From Andrew: Fathers Day 2015

Happy Father's Day! Thanks for all the games of horse and catch, the taxi service, and just generally being there to teach life lessons (like how to fix pipes when it's 40 below outside haha), I don't know where I would be without them!

To Dylan. Fathers Day 2015

Happy Fathers Day Dylan! You have done so much in such a short amount of time. School and work and starting a family have all come to you so quickly. To no-one's surprise you have handled them all with grace and courage and a quiet focus that has become your trademark. As you get further embroiled in this wonderful, wild journey known as "fatherhood" mere words cannot show how proud I am of the man and the father you have become. When Chuck Norris says his Hail Mary's he starts them "Our Dylan..." :)
I love you son!

Don't miss your chance...

I remember the ice cream when he got home..the soft pretzels from somewhere..my mom holding my ears as he made a pass in the Torino at the drag strip...the red fishing rod..the digital watch and my 1100 at 13; ice fishing and Italian sausage on a hard roll..building my GTO.
I remember so many things that we never talked about. I remember the singular sentimental birthday card I sent him that he saved forever. I remember the bad times as well, but such was our family.
We lost Grandpa Bill today. Approx 1pm. He was strong, but could not win.
It is as cliche, a song, a repeated sentiment in life. Hug the ones you love and tell them how much they mean to you. Don't miss your chance!!
I LOVE YOU DAD!

I think as a father that i spend too much time lamenting what i could have done differently or could do different now. I really need to focus on the end results of my parenting work.

All alone...

I am all alone and I am now a cliche. I have made a lot of mistakes in the past, many of them public. A LOT OF MISTAKES! This time I was different. I have a woman I love with all my heart and soul; I have been completely honest at all times in all matters.

My foolish pride has gotten in the way a couple of times, but never have I been secretive or dishonest about anything between us. My financial woes from my past have haunted me and hunted me. I have not always been 100% forthcoming to the fullest as I didn't want to burden her and "our" future with "my" past. That was a mistake but I can rectify that.

In all other areas I have tried to give my heart and soul and be the very best man I could be. Now, looming on the horizon, is the possibility that the one person whom I have completely given my heart and soul, my very breath, my very reason to exist to may not want me any more. How is that possible...how is that fair...how would I survive.

My kids are grown and doing well, they do not need to hear me. My best friend is 100 miles away and I have failed in that relationship as well. I am completely alone in this world with no one to talk to and no one to help me navigate. My darkest moments during my last marriage are no comparison to where I am now. I am not easily given to melodrama, and in the past I have bottled up everything. That is not who I am now and this is where I am. I am going to fight for my life.