My father was a very caring and generous man. He owned a shoe store in our small farm town, where he would extend credit to families he knew would not be able to pay him back, but never forced them to pay on their debt. When I, his only son, was about 2 years old my father was diagnosed with a brain tumor and went in for surgery shortly there after. Unfortunately, brain surgery was primitive in the late 1980's, and he was never the same. He did not return to work, nor would he ever be the smart businessman he once was. He deteriorated over the years and finally died of ammonia when he was 48 during an extended hospital stay, but all his life people never stopped coming by our home to check in on him and our family as he was a pillar of the community. He was always remembered for his outstanding character, and I just wish I would have had more time to be the son of that particular man. I still think of him often, and wonder what I would be like today had he not gotten sick when I was such a young child. Dad, if you know I wrote this, I just want you to know I wish so badly to have the time back that was stolen from us, I love you.
Anthony Robert