Well I’ve finally entered the 21st century, 11 years late. I feel like I need an outlet for my thoughts. I don’t get to talk to people about politics, religion, and such. I don’t have much experience with blogs. I know of them, but haven’t followed any.

I plan on writing about what I think and feel. Sort of treating this as a diary that I’m sharing with the world.

At this moment I’m at one of my son’s chess tournaments. He loves playing in these, but doesn’t really practice much. He likes the competition and camaraderie of being on a team. If I was more focused on my children’s success I would spend more time coaching and making him practice. But I let my kids find their own way. If I was more convinced that I knew what was best for them I’d take a firmer stand.

I spend a lot of time looking for news, photos or videos of my dead son-in-law Derek. He died Dec. 6th, 2010 a day before his first son was born. He was shot in the head by a sniper in Sangin, Afghanistan. It’s the worst tragedy I’ve had to deal with. I hope that he didn’t suffer. But his absence has left a huge hole in the fabric of the lives of the people that new him. The background picture of my phone is of him and my daughter smiling at the camera. What every father wants for his daughter is for her to meet and marry someone who makes them happy. Someone that they can build a life with and share themselves with. Someone who helps them become a better person. He was all of that and more for Kait. The sense of loss I have for what should have been has been debilitating for me.

Derek is the inspiration for this. One night after talking with him, I can’t remember the details of the conversation, he said, “You should write a book!” At first I thought he was pulling my leg, but he insisted I should. For months after that I wondered what would I write? What about our conversations did he enjoy? Was he saying it just to make points with his father-in-law? But after his death, I read a quote of his. I don’t know if it originated with him but he said, “Don’t look down on a man unless you’re offering your hand to help him up.” He was a natural leader by all accounts of the people that new him. He inspired people to do more. So I trust that he wanted me to do something with these thoughts that rattle inside my head. I don’t think he would agree with a lot of what I want to say, but as the saying goes, he’d fight to death for my right to say it. And as is typical of Derek, he didn’t just say it, he did it.