Dad, to most people, was nothing more than ordinary, but I likened him to God. He measured up to the billing. I could write a book about him. I’ve made him the prime subject in several of my stories. His schooling ended with sixth grade. His trade was as an auto and farm equipment mechanic. Before he married Mom, he lived a little on the wild side... loved auto racing and motor cycles. I’ll admit I was his pet — and I adored him. However, my siblings did not have the same affection for him as I. He died in 1976 at age 78.

I can not imagine Heaven being more perfect than I had growing up in a very small Indiana town during the depression era. Life was not full of riches but it was great, I wanted for nothing. Dad worked very hard to provide for his family — and had very little sympathy for men who did not. He was not the kind of man to pet his children, but I never knew him not to take the time to listen to my problems and wants. He taught me the ‘facts of life’ mostly by pranks and teasing – not by lectures. He did not give me many pats on the back or words of encouragement, but I could see it in his face when he was proud of my accomplishments. That’s all I needed to try harder to do even better.

I know most of you will take it as blasphemous, but I simply do not understand the Bible. To me it is mostly parables, allegories and fables — to be interpreted any way one chooses. Revelations probably describes Heaven more than any other book in the Bible. It is a fabulous description, but I would not trade my boyhood in Sandborn, Indiana for an eternity behind the twelve pearly gates of Heaven as I interpreted it in reading Revelations.

The photo is of Dad and his race car, taken about three years before I was born.