ba ba

when i grow up, i want to be just like my dad.

yesterday was fathers day. for the past 10 yrs, all that meant for me was a phone call back home and a 3 minute conversation with him. we talk a bit about golf, he asks me if everything's ok with me, and we end the conversation, always with him saying "you take care, ok?"

my dad grew up in a small town, poor. but somehow he turned that into a college education in taiwan, a masters degree in the university of kansas, a few years working on wall st in nyc, his own insurance company, an electronics factory, and now a plastic injection/molding factory.

through ups and downs, he always came home, leaving all the baggage outside the door. never once would he take out his frustration on his family. his job was the protector, and protect us he did. even now, he'll just smile when i ask him about the downs he went through. smile and say "when you grow older, i'll tell you."

i imagine the path he took, the difficulties he had to overcome to get to where he is now, and i can only admire the dedication, hard work and determination. maybe the last generation really was built stronger than this one. put me in his shoes, and i'm not sure i can even take one step, let alone walk a mile.

i strive to be just like him, and if i turn out to be only a fraction of the person my dad turned out to be, i'll be fine in life.

happy fathers day, ba.