When Dad passed away at 73 years old, I posthumously discovered three slim diaries in his desk he'd written for the years 2018, 2019, and 2020 respectively. One for each of the last three he lived.
The diaries were a shock considering Dad was not a fan of the literary arts. He thought poetry, journaling, and other such "flowery" art forms
When Dad passed away at 73 years old, I posthumously discovered three slim diaries in his desk he'd written for the years 2018, 2019, and 2020 respectively. One for each of the last three he lived.
The diaries were a shock considering Dad was not a fan of the literary arts. He thought poetry, journaling, and other such "flowery" art forms to be very unmanly if they were not in the realm of his beloved "action" tales lived vicariously. So, finding three personal diaries was like discovering a Neanderthal from the Paleolithic era not only knew how to write, but penned Beowulf.
Sadly, despite the initial promise, Dad's diaries were non-starters. A few handwritten pages -- mostly filled with anemic entries of the "poor me" variety -- before fading off.
Still the idea of a lineage diary interested me. I wondered if my own daughters, Olivia and Grace - whom I greatly adore - would like to have something literary to remember their father by?
But not a diary. Diaries, in my opinion, are often far too narcissistic and boring as a medium. If I were to write, what I wrote would have to be entertaining. And informative about me as a person and the roles I valued - father, son, brother, husband, Christian, retired policeman and former detective, psychiatric nurse, avid pickleball player, etc. All without being regressive or trite.
So, in January of 2020, I began my own writing project. A few tentative paragraphs that turned into a few pages that progressed into the essays, short stories, book reviews, movie critiques, letters, and grumpy old man blog filling out the contents of this webpage.
You should know not everything I've written is factually accurate or historically sound. I took a few liberties in the interest of better fiction. But the work is one hundred percent me. True to who I am, how I got here, and what I believe in. My “voice” as they say. Which just about every writer, editor, and how to write book states I must find to be successful. All is fair in art, I suppose. So, if you're looking for an autobiography or gossip - go ask my ex-wife. She was there for much of it and, as I learned early on, never forgets anything. Mainly, I just tried to tell interesting tales you hopefully will enjoy reading. And if you happen to find the work poignant - and the writer wise beyond his years - so much the better.
One day - when I am gone - everything will be handed over to my daughters, Olivia and Grace, in the hope they will enjoy reading my works as much as I did creating them.
I love you, Olivia. I love you, Grace.
All this is me writing for you with all the love I have in my heart.
Sincerely,
Your Dad,
Eric
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