To whom it may concern,

I remember reading a few of the Dear Abby articles in the newspaper over the years. I found some of the advice was dead-on with what I might have told a good friend while some others gave me the disposition of taking offense. Understanding this in my waning years, I have now come to further understand why some people don't enjoy my Dad's company and some just can't stand me at all. Allow me to explain.

My Dad has always been a talkative and opinionated person who never met anyone with whom he could not engage and guide a conversation in all his seventy six-years. The older he became, I began to notice, the more he enjoyed shocking a person and watching how they conducted themselves as my Dad's often narrow-minded viewpoint was delivered emphatically. I have observed him bring his fellow conversationalists nearly to blows and then smile at them and verbally defuse their nearly violent responses. My Dad often engaged me in the same manner. I oft pondered just why he did that.

As I have grown older, I have noticed that, and as my Fiancee has repeatedly pointed out, I am my Father's Son. I respect my Dad. I love my Dad. I can't imagine having any other man as my Father. He taught me to respect my elders even if they were only one day older than me. He tutored me in the art using common sense to deal with situations and people. He showed me that one can never be ashamed of making a mistake because you can only make mistakes if you are trying. He also silently instructed me on how to get others to use their brains and think. I am my Father's Son.

I, too, will engaged in opinionated outbursts during a conversation in an attempt to get the person speaking with me to use their brains for more than a space-filler for their cranium. You see? My Dad taught me in this way to be an individual. To not follow the crowd but to try to be more a leader of the few or the many. Today's so-called Specialists call this an 'A Personality'. I call it being what used to be referred to as a normal person. Someone who wished to learn and share with others. A person not ashamed of making mistakes because they were actually trying to accomplish something. Now for my point.

I have recently made several mistakes which occurred as results of efforts on my behalf to pass along some information to others or to get them to think about what they were doing. It would appear that my words combined with my actions have caused two close family members appear to not care to ever see me again. Some things I've said have caused another family member to back away from me in one respect. I never believed my Dad to be conversationally tactful and he is the one who taught me. Bottom line? Like my Father, you either love me or hate me. Like my Dad, I don't really care which. Take a stand and stick to your guns! Right or wrong, at least you're using your noggin and showing some initiative.

Sincerely,

My Father's Son