Some weirdo I know

Well hello there readers,

Today I have a short somewhat biographical snippet to share. It's about a peculiar specimen of humanity to whom I owe quite a lot.

My dad is funny, intelligent, caring and creative; in short he is a wonderful man. He is also a huge weirdo.

I'm not talking about that social-outcast-make-elaborate-villages-out-of-toothpicks-and-glitter-all-alone-all-day type, but more the kind who does things just because other people don't, loving every second of it.

He trained in resource economics and programs computers, he ostensibly likes charred meat and black licorice, and he keeps plastic prehistoric sea creatures on his work desk at home, and a large actually frightening plastic rat on his shelf at work. This is a man who worked as a draft counselor, advising people how to get out of war duty during Vietnam, and who moved from Michigan to Seattle alone just to change the pace of his life.

When my sister and I were collectively about as big as the TVs were at the time, he would read to us every night and continued doing so for years. What did he read for 90% of that time? Lord of the Rings... over and over and over. We've been through that one series at least six times.

Given the choice between a luxury all expenses paid vacation featuring all of a cities fineries, and a walk in the mountains, he would almost certainly take the walk.

I still have at best a very hazy idea of what this particular weirdo did during his life between 20 and 30, and I pry more details from him now and then. A tragic accident wiped out all photographic records of the man from his earlier life, so I don't even know what he looked liked.

These kinds of details are not isolated events, there are thousands of them and together they form a human being. Not only that, but they rubbed off on me. What I'm trying to say by this is that when people look at me and say something to the effect of "You're an odd one Tim" (and believe me, this justifiably happens a lot) I smile for a reason. I know why I'm a strange fellow and it's more than a point of pride.

-Tim