pyrhhus

There was a time in my life when I despised my father. That's OK. I was seventeen and seventeen-year-olds are supposed to despise their parents, otherwise they have no impetus to leave the house. It is only in the last two years that I have found a deep appreciation for all my parents gave to me, and just how much I am like my father.

Things I owe my dad (good and bad):
I am not afraid to speak up; I am not afraid to voice an idea or ask a question.
I will live my entire life believing I can do better at what I am doing.
I have a very hard time being satisfied with myself.
I am susceptible to alcoholism.
I have a capacious memory.
I have a passion for learning all things of all types.
I have a relatively pessimistic attitude.
I will never hit, cheat on, or abuse a woman in any purposeful manner. (Hurt in some fashion is unavoidable in any long-term close interpersonal relationship)
I am incredibly loyal, especially to family.
I love music.
I have an appreciation - but not an overwhelming need - for the finer things in life.

The list could go on if I wished it I'm sure. This list is not to exclude my mother at all in the good and bad of my upbringing; my mother also had a hand in many of the items here listed. It is simply that I was just thinking about my dad tonight.