My Dad was in the RCMP. Growing up, I briefly considered following his footsteps but in the end, I just wasn’t the right kind of person. I was more into science, math and computers than sports and gravitated towards computers, programming and general mischief making. Along the way, I got heavy into security and privacy.
My Dad retired 17 years ago and since then, he’s gotten heavy into computers. He knows more about Mailchimp than anyone I know. And though I ended up with a marketing degree, he’s become my de facto email marketing consultant.
Now that he’s heavy into computers, I see all the neat ways he’s influenced me (and vice versa). Security, particularly opsec is a passion we both share. After many conversations, I’m starting to realize that he’s actually the one who got me into the field way back in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Now when we talk about his career, it’s clear that he instilled the idea of hacking into me. He wasn’t into software systems, but he was into human systems and he was relentlessly resourceful when it came to solving their problems.
Looking back with 43 years of experience, I realize how much of an influence my Dad had over me. I don’t know that we’ll ever have a vi versus emacs debate, but holy hell, do I ever feel lucky that I got to know my Dad on this level.
I hope to live long enough to get to know my daughter on that level. And friend, I wish the same for you!!!
This is a sweet, sweet message man, and makes me feel good. Ultimately I think your last couple sentences really is the root of what I'm feeling. Just want them to look back on our time together in good light.
Thanks for your kind words, friend. I don't know you as a person, but I know how you write. It takes one hell of a beautiful Dad to make me come out with a story about my own beautiful Dad. And it takes a wonderful, thoughtful man to inspire me to be that same kind of beautiful dad to my own little girl.
I capitalize the word 'Dad' when people deserve it. You get the capital D because you most certainly do. If my gut and instinct is anything to go by, you've already succeeded and they most certainly look back on your time together in a good light.
Heck, you raised a child with enough love to get into healthcare. I'm not nearly strong enough to get into a system like that. And you raised a child with enough self confidence to get into art.
Frankly, you have joined the ranks of my Dad heroes. If I'm lucky enough to raise my daughter to be the person that your children are, I will be very proud of myself.
Now give yourself a massive pat on the back because you deserve it.
In my haste to reply, I didn't even realize that you wrote and submitted the original article. Thank YOU for your beautiful message that inspired all of this thought, reflection and tears.
Your nephews are lucky to have you in their lives. I'm lucky to have been able to read something so beautiful that inspired so much more beauty.
Take good care, stay healthy and thanks for being genuinely good. People like you have enriched my life throughout the years and that's a debt I will never be able to repay.
You know friend, give yourself a huge pat on the back. It takes a really beautiful Dad to think the way that you do and to be so focused on helping your boys find their own passions and strengths.
You deserve the capital 'D' for Dad. I don't capitalize that word lightly - I'm an obsessive fuck when it comes to language and grammar. But you truly deserve it.
Thank you for your kind words!! And most importantly, thank you for being the kind of beautiful Dad who inspires me to be just as beautiful a Dad as you are.
My Dad retired 17 years ago and since then, he’s gotten heavy into computers. He knows more about Mailchimp than anyone I know. And though I ended up with a marketing degree, he’s become my de facto email marketing consultant.
Now that he’s heavy into computers, I see all the neat ways he’s influenced me (and vice versa). Security, particularly opsec is a passion we both share. After many conversations, I’m starting to realize that he’s actually the one who got me into the field way back in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Now when we talk about his career, it’s clear that he instilled the idea of hacking into me. He wasn’t into software systems, but he was into human systems and he was relentlessly resourceful when it came to solving their problems.
Looking back with 43 years of experience, I realize how much of an influence my Dad had over me. I don’t know that we’ll ever have a vi versus emacs debate, but holy hell, do I ever feel lucky that I got to know my Dad on this level.
I hope to live long enough to get to know my daughter on that level. And friend, I wish the same for you!!!