It more than slightly sucks that Father's Day comes so close to the anniversary of my own father's death. This year will be the twentieth anniversary.

Had I not chosen to extend my enlistment and go on WestPac with the Ustafish, I would have been home for Dad's last Father's Day, as well as for his death, memorial services, etc. I know that extending was the right thing to do at the time, given my not being omniscient. I needed to have that experience to make a good decision on whether or not to stay in; had I not made the WestPac, I'd always regret never having actually gone overseas in my Naval career.

But, damn, it still hurts to remember how many opportunities I should have had and didn't.

I love you, Dad, and I miss you terribly.