Leon Smith. The man I called daddy. Dad was a very special man not just because he was my dad but because he was my best friend. My teacher in life of many things. Dad helped me learn to shoot a gun, drive a car and try my best to be nice to everybody regardless. He had a way about teaching you things with out pounding it in your head, though I'm sure he wanted to more than once..hahaha!! He could be your best friend when you needed one. He could be your biggest fear when you knew he knew what you had done. Funny thing about that was he never really said a lot to me about some things that I would have killed my son over. But rather he would let me think about what I had done. I think a lot of times I might would have rather had a beating. But ya know I think I learned more about right and wrong just by simply thinking about it. One thing comes to mind talking about that. Well now that I think about it maybe I shouldn't say anything because mom might ground me...hahaha! Oh well, anyway ya see he had a Honda 750 and I was just about the right age to do something that I knew was wrong but went ahead and did it anyway. One afternoon a good friend of mine and I decided we wanted to cruise the neighborhood on dad's motorcycle. Well all was great until the bike started sliding all about as we entered a curve up the road from our house. After getting it shut down we discovered that the back tire had blown out. Well I managed to get this beast pushed all the way back home and put it back in the garage, closed the door and went on about my business. Dad arrived home and to best of my memory never said a word about it. Not realizing at the time that parents weren't stupid, I thought he didn't notice. But a little later in my life I discovered that maybe parents weren't all that dumb and he probably knew all the time. I guess he had figured maybe I learned a lesson on my own, which I did. It was small things like this that made me understand what he had been trying to teach me all my life. Don't worry about the things you can't change, but rather change the things you can. And as far as the motorcycle go's, I don't remember ever sneaking it out again. So I guess it worked. Also if he did say anything to me about it, I don't guess it was to bad because I don't remember ever getting into trouble over it.

Just setting here thinking about the time I wanted to buy him something for his birth day. And how that changed a lot for him. I'm sure he gave me the money or mom did but anyway I bought him one of those pocket fisherman rod and reel combo's. Ya know one of those heavy duty shark fighting kind..hahaha!!! Well we started fishing a lot more and wasn't to long after that he bought a new rod and reel and then after a bit bought a boat. The rest is history. If you had the pleasure of knowing him you know how he loved fishing. Oh he fished long before I was even thought about but not like he wanted to I'm sure. I kinda feel like maybe getting that little pocket fisherman rod and reel it sorta rekindled the ole' die hard fisher man's heart.

There are so many memories that come to mind about different things through out my upbringing but my pen is running low of ink. So I'll cut it short. Oh yea, this is the silly pewter..hahaha!! No really I don't want to run on and on about different things that made up me and daddy's relationship. I'm sure if you ever knew some one such as dad you can sorta relate.

I suppose that one of the things that has helped me make it through this difficult time is the fact that I know beyond any doubt where dad is today. Lot's of folks who loose loved one's aren't real sure about that. Believe me, it helps to know. If you don't know where you'll go when you depart from this world maybe it's time to think about life and how short it can be. I know where I'll be when I die. Just hoping dad has the boat filled up and ready when I get there. : ) Bet he'll know where all the hot spots are by then. : )

Well anyway I'll leave here now but before I let you go I would like to say to all of you that has a dad who is still around, call him often if you can't go visit cause you never know when it will be there time to leave this world. Also don't forget dear ole' mom. After all if it wasn't for her you wouldn't have ever known your dad.

God bless you all and keep the good Lord near your heart,

Brandon