Most people knew him as an easygoing family practice physician.
While in high school, he pulled a pistol on his principal.
He once shot out the back window of the truck owned by a guy that was trespassing on our farm. Another time he took two guys at gunpoint from our farm to the police station in town... sitting with them in the back of the truck while my brother drove... for picking shrooms.
He broke his neck in a car accident and had to be put in a halo... he was seeing patients in his office three days later.
He twice pissed away more money in the span of a couple of years than I am likely to ever see in my lifetime.
Snakes feared him when he had his golf clubs.
He was generous with time and money, but rarely with patience or praise.
He imparted the wisdom in me to not judge a man by what he wore or how he spoke.
At times he taught me how to be... and others, how not to be.
He was a man for which the words pride and shame had no meaning.
Happy Birthday dad. I don't know what you'd think of me if you could see me today.
