My heart is sad.

Yesterday morning, I got a phone call that my father had passed away. The news is still sinking in. I'm at a loss for words, really.

But I will say that I am fortunate. I called him about a week ago to let him know that I got gotten the job, and the last thing he said to me was, "I'm proud of you."

For me, that's something to treasure. I've always wanted to please my dad...always.

I am also fortunate because I do have many good memories of him.

When I was a senior in high school, he and I did this thing for a while where once a month, I'd make him take me out to dinner, just the two of us, so we could spend time together.

I remember right after my parents separated, we'd go see him on the weekends and he would spend time playing Monopoly with James, Sarah and I at the coffee table of my grandmother's house.

I remember being a kid and calling him at work just to say, "hi" and he never got upset with me for it.

I remember when I was about 11, he took me for a ride on his motorcycle to the Water-Wall in Houston. When we got there we just walked around, talked and ate ice cream from a vendor.

I remember him taking us to the Astros' games at the Astrodome. We would always sit in the highest deck, the one with the rainbow seats. I remember almost every time when we'd be pulling into the parking lot, Sarah would get carsick and he was always really calm about it.

I remember him making the best chocolate milkshakes, complete with chunks of Hershey Bars.

So many good memories.

I love you, Daddy.