The Reader's Digest Version- a worthwhile read

He's worth more than a one liner.

Dad was the eldest boy of nine kids. That meant he was often the "Man of the House" since my grandfather was a captain in the US Navy and often deployed (including a 9 month stint in Antarctica). He had intense pressure on him to be successful and keep the kids in line.

My parent's met on a blind date in New Jersey. They quickly fell in love and were married a year later. On a whim they moved to Colorado. Jobless and desperate my father worked as a used car salesman while my mother began teaching at the Deaf and Blind School. He quickly moved on to the Sheriffs department as a deputy and attended graduate school earning 2 master's degrees. His strong work ethic and charming personality led to his quick advancement to lieutenant and then captain. He retired in 1999 as commander. Along the way my parents had four children of their own and then adopted my sister from China.

We were all flabbergasted when he announced that he was going to work as a UN Peacekeeper in Kosovo. After many years at a desk job he was on the front lines in a foreign country. It was all so surreal. His schedule was such that he worked 21 days in a row and then had 11 off. My mother would fly to a different locations in Europe each month to visit him. He was gone for 15 months arriving home just a few days before Julie was born in 2001.

He now works as the Department Chair of Criminal Justice at the local college. His students give him outstanding reviews each semester. He's got the wackiest sense of humor and the most amazing stories.

On his days off he helps watch my kiddos. He especially enjoys taking the little boys on outings to parks. They completely light up and squeak with joy when they see him.