Open letter to Thomas A. Moore, Sr.

Dear Dad,

I sit here a thousand miles away a full year younger than the age you were when you had me. That thought is mind boggling to me as I reflect over the last 42 years. There aren't many who are given the chance, nay - the opportunty, to say thank you to the ones that have loved them their whole lives. And with that I say, thank you.

I am proud of who I have become in what is hopefully my mid-life. But a large degree of the credit is yours. I am the man, the husband, the father that I am because of my respect and admiration of you. Your dedication to our family, your faith, your constant support of me individually are all idol worthy.

Today is Veterans Day, and I can't help but recall your early patriotic call. Too young, in theory, to serve in the WWII effort didn't stop you from packing your things (or just a toothbrush, if I recall the story correctly) and joining the Navy. "Dinty" Moore may not have made it out of the Carribbean due to the war's end, but your dedication to serve demontrates the value of honor in life.

Unlike many people today, you worked at the same company my entire life. You had a daily routine that showed dedication and consistency. As a small child, I loved visiting your office. You were respected and influential. I can vividly recall one specific day when I was sitting in your office and you were on the phone working with the banks moving millions of dollars around to fund your company's business with a single phone call. That was a day where I looked at the man behind the desk and said - I want to do this, and finance became my calling.

Your work ethic was instilled in me early. I understood the value of a dollar, and the value of education. By the sixth grade I struggled in the less than structured public education system. Despite having left the hardship of just putting the education expenses of three other private school tuitions behind you, you recommitted to sending me to private school. Although not my favorite decision at the time, it's the one individual decision that probably most shapped the rest of my life. Although it wasn't much in the scheme of things, you required me to commit 50% of every dollar I earned from the time I was 12 to go towards my own education. I may have hated turning over all those Christmas tips from the paper route, and it probably contributed to the value of only a few textbooks, but it created something in me that lasted a lifetime.

Work wasn't the most important thing in your life by any stretch. Despite your tireless dedication to your work, you made it home for supper each night. Maybe its more legend than reality, but it's a feat that still amazes me to this day. You drove me to school every day. You made basketball games and cross country meets. We attended scores of great sporting events together, and had vacation moments that I will always treasure.

Throughout life your steady, quiet nature was a subtle, but driving force. I may not share your calm level-headedness, but such a temperment was reassuring. If you were mad, I knew it and learned from it. It was a stable environment that fostered being both inquisitive and opinionated, yet tolerant. Your faith was a guiding force throughout that, and your love of God and the Church were heartening. The way you have handled the last few months has been inspiring. I can not imagine a more honorable and healthy way. Your amazing dedication to assisting Mom in the face of your own battle is worthy of story telling. But being the centerpoint of the story is not you. You view it as your humanly duty, just like you did the day you left Springfield with just the toothbrush. You've raised a family that understands the need to care for each other, and understand that what you view as your duty will dutifully be carried on.

I am lucky to have thousands of lasting great memories of our time together, and even further lucky to have zero bad ones. I was unfortunate not to know either of my grandfathers. In earlier years, as health waxed and waned, I worried my children would not know some of theirs. Thankfully that is not the case. You have created wonderful memories for them as well - and for that we are all lucky.

May God be with you,

Your loving son,
Bill

Movember

November (a.k.a Mo-vember for people who grow mustaches in respect for mens health issues) is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness month. Get aware. But then again its also Native American Heritage Month, COPD Awareness month, National Novel Writing Month, Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month, American Diabetes Month, Lung Cancer Awareness Month, National Homeless Youth Awareness Month, Crohn's & Ulcerative Colitis Awareness Month, National Pomegranate Month, and International Drum Month - so you might be busy.