Catholic: Pax Vobiscum
Muslim: Salam Alleichum
Buddhist and Hindu: Namaste
Jewish: Shalom Alleichum
Bahai:
Bahai, how are you?
Monday, July 20, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
The Last Ride
In January 2000, I took the last ride with my dad.
Here is a link to a map. http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl
We left Las Vegas fueling up at a service station and my dad began driving us in his big Lincoln Continental. We drove until we got to Scotty's Castle.
Here is a link to a map. http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl
We left Las Vegas fueling up at a service station and my dad began driving us in his big Lincoln Continental. We drove until we got to Scotty's Castle.
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl
http://www.nps.gov/deva/historyculture/scottys-castle.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotty
We walked around the Castle having a good time to talk and interact with some of the actors who portray some of the characters who used to frequent Scotty's Castle.
This wasn't like a lot of last ride's with one's dad because I never met my dad till I was 25 years old, so I owed nothing to his influence or development up to that time except DNA.
We had stayed in touch after the first meeting and for a time, I lived at his house.
Maybe he sensed that there was something final about this ride. As we cruised through the majesty and breadth of the Death Valley, he gave his approval to the course of my life.
http://www.nps.gov/deva
http://photos.igougo.com/pictures-l2172-Death_Valley_photos.html
My father had chosen the way of science. He chose to get a PHD in Physics at Stanford. Myself, I had given myself to the humanities, history, language, military, music (singing, guitar, piano, harmonika), athletics (running, basketball, biking, weightlifting, etc)
So there we were having taken divergent paths but now together after all these years. I think he appreciated that without having mastered scientific theory, that I had enough understanding along with my other studies to have a good understanding of our life and the universe. Whenever I would refer to the Greek Classics and our Classical heritage, he would always talk about his Greek Tailor who he said had told him, "Euripides, Eumenides."
I didn't know that this would be the last time I would see him, nor did I know that the last time I would speak to him would be when soldiers under my command in Baghdad would take care of their leader and hand me a Satellite phone so I could call home.
It does comfort me to know that I had my father's approval. Our parents play an important place in our lives. I hope my children know that they have my approval. I love them as they are and they will have my support in what ever they do.
http://www.nps.gov/deva/historyculture/scottys-castle.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotty
We walked around the Castle having a good time to talk and interact with some of the actors who portray some of the characters who used to frequent Scotty's Castle.
This wasn't like a lot of last ride's with one's dad because I never met my dad till I was 25 years old, so I owed nothing to his influence or development up to that time except DNA.
We had stayed in touch after the first meeting and for a time, I lived at his house.
Maybe he sensed that there was something final about this ride. As we cruised through the majesty and breadth of the Death Valley, he gave his approval to the course of my life.
http://www.nps.gov/deva
http://photos.igougo.com/pictures-l2172-Death_Valley_photos.html
My father had chosen the way of science. He chose to get a PHD in Physics at Stanford. Myself, I had given myself to the humanities, history, language, military, music (singing, guitar, piano, harmonika), athletics (running, basketball, biking, weightlifting, etc)
So there we were having taken divergent paths but now together after all these years. I think he appreciated that without having mastered scientific theory, that I had enough understanding along with my other studies to have a good understanding of our life and the universe. Whenever I would refer to the Greek Classics and our Classical heritage, he would always talk about his Greek Tailor who he said had told him, "Euripides, Eumenides."
I didn't know that this would be the last time I would see him, nor did I know that the last time I would speak to him would be when soldiers under my command in Baghdad would take care of their leader and hand me a Satellite phone so I could call home.
It does comfort me to know that I had my father's approval. Our parents play an important place in our lives. I hope my children know that they have my approval. I love them as they are and they will have my support in what ever they do.
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