...try, try again. *Sigh*
It seems poignant to get this up and active right now, though....it is Sarah's senior year after all. While I wasn't actively blogging for a few years, rest assured, learning was taking place, classes were completed, books were read, grades were issued. A graduation will indeed take place next year! Yikes!!
Also, my desire to return to my blog resurfaced this summer after my dad died. He was a very cerebral man, always searching, always thinking, always reading, always discussing, always debating. I think my dad wanted to be the next great philosopher of our time. He actually started his own blog entitled "The Polemicist". And in case you aren't familiar with that term...
A polemicist is a person who attacks someone else with written or spoken words. A heated debate is the perfect venue for a polemicist. If you're a polemicist, you have very strong opinions, and you're not afraid to state them — even if they hurt other people.
Now, I would argue that my dad wasn't really the attacking type. He wasn't a "in your face" type of guy. He did have strong opinions, and, boy oh boy, he sure wasn't afraid to state them. And he did love to push the envelope. Yes, indeed, he did!! He just considered himself as the one to make other people seriously think about their beliefs; and he loved to challenge everyone that would listen about EVERYTHING that was newsworthy or pertinent at the time (well, and not so pertinent sometimes).
He never did post anything. I kind of wish he had, for a couple of reasons. I would then have some writings of his to look back on; also, then maybe we, his family, wouldn't have had to endure so many in person debates and discussions! :) No....it was all good. Bless his heart.
At the end of the day, here is what I think my dad was trying to do. He had such a zeal and zest for life; he was a joyful person, never down in the dumps or bummed. And certainly he never had a 'woe is me' kind of outlook. It was infectious. He desperately wanted everyone else to do life like him. I think he was confused why everyone DIDN'T operate this way. But he made it look easy.
He wanted all of humanity to get along, even amidst all of the varied and challenging differences that exist. He didn't understand why our differences had to cause so much trouble and be the stuff of headlines. He was on a mission to spread his way of life, this philosophy. That's why he did what he did.
So in honor of my philosopher dad, here I go. I did inherit his reflecting nature. I will miss our discussions. I will miss being challenged.
I miss my dad.
