I just read an inspiring blog post by bkb2012. Her post, in turn, inspired me to write about that which keeps me "on fire".

My Father, God rest his soul, was a newspaper editor for most of his adult life. A high school dropout, he got a job after World War 2 as a copy boy at a small paper in Northern California.

My Dad was, in fact, a brilliant, well-spoken and hard working man. He applied himself to his newfound proffession and rose through the ranks quickly. Copy boy, cub reporter, beat reporter, assistant wire editor and then wire editor. "Back in the day", a wire editor was the guy who gathered the news off "the wire" (UPI, AP, et al) and from beat reporters and put the news portion of the paper together. Every night that 11 p.m. deadline loomed like a silent boss peering over his shoulder.

As he aged the pressure took its toll. His employer, the San Jose Mercury/News, transferred him to the "Travel" section, where he edited for the last ten years of his working life. He had a weekly "byline", picture and all, and enjoyed the many benefits of that pressure-less job. Free travel, free "King" treatment at resorts and on cruises. Just so he would write a quality story about that experience. He loved and deserved it.

My Dad always wanted me to enter the newspaper business. Hesaid I was a "natural". Instead, I became a plumber! This greatly disappointed my Dad, old school news guy that he was. He had no problem expressing his disappointment to me, either!

Finally I went to my Dad and said, "Pops, you know we really are in the same business, right?"

He responded, "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Looking straight into his eyes and with a stone face I retorted, "Well, we both deal in crap!"

A thirty second no-blink staring war ensued. What was he thinking? I kind of wished I hadn't said that to him. Then, with a sudden crack in his facial armor, he broke into a huge smile, belly-laughed and laid a long and bracing bear hug on me. He told me he loved me and said, "Son, if you want to be a plumber, then you go and be the best damn plumber you can be!"

I will carry that memory to my grave. He was my inspiration, and to this day still is. When I'm in self-doubt, feeling lazy or worn down, I think of my Father and how hard he worked, how well he did with little education. He was a self-made man.

I love you, Dad.