This time of year, I seem to always think of my father--he passed in January of 1997. His ghost rides with me in the truck and sometimes I have rather lengthy, if one-sided, conversations with him. He doesn't say much, but he was always good at letting what he doesn't say do the talking.

We weren't terribly close--I don't want to give you the impression that I'm still grieving for him. I'm not. I do miss him at times or I should say I miss what we were becoming just before he passed--a father and son rebuilding the bridges we burned in days gone by.

I won't bore you with the details of our estrangement. I've had an enlightening life since finding out that 99% of families are dysfunctional in one way or another--some worse than others. Mine was somewhere in the middle of the bad range. Not the end of the world, but you can see it from there.

I'll make this short. I know folks want to concentrate on the coming Christmas and other holidays. It's a time to be with those dysfunctional families and maybe get the needle on the gauge pointed more toward the middle of the range or even tip towards the Good part. Remember, we only go around once.

Waylon tells it pretty good so if you want, wander over and hear what he has to say about relationships and families and how it all can go so wrong...

'Son, I know at your age, it feels like this ol' world is turnin' slow

And you think you'll find the answer to it all where corn don't grow'...

Waylon Jennings--Where Corn Don't Grow www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwwGjO…

And enjoy these features that have been piling up in my inbox lately Triple Plays from each!

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