"It's ok son. Don't listen to her. Your mother is fucking insane."

My mom would always fuss that I'd drip water on the floor after a shower. After one such fussing, my dad took the time to actually give me advice on how to towel off properly, so as not to drip. (LPT: start from the top, work your way down)

Anyways, he was the more patient parent and would try and help you succeed.

I don't think he ever quite readjusted to civilian life after his time in World War II. He talked of it constantly, watched documentaries and war pictures.

When I was lime 6 or 7 he told me that he broke a gay guy's nose because he hit on my dad at a rest stop bathroom.

I'll never forget being around 12 years old and hearing my dad address another adult by Mr+surname. It was Mr Palmer who organized the little league I grew up playing in and my dad coached. In school we were forced to address teachers and staff as Ms, Mrs or Mr but at that instance I realized treating others with respect is a choice

My father died when I was a baby

His fists.

I thought that my Dad always killed flies with extreme force, until I saw him releasing them outside from his fist.

Best advice my ol’ man ever gave me was “Always stand up for yourself, otherwise you might as well put a target on your forehead”.