Saturday, September 15, 2007

A little bit about your father

I want to provide some information about me and where I come from. I would be very interested to learn more about my father as a man my age. So I feel I must give this to you. Who is your old man!

I grew up in a small town. Lima, Ohio. Our address was 1401 Winghaven Drive, Lima, Ohio. 45805. Our phone number was 419 991-2591. We didnt have email, computers, or anything like that. Life was good and I loved my father and mother. I was also raised by a black woman named GIGI. She was a nanny and very much a part of our family. My childhood was fun. I had 4 older sisters and 1 older brother. I really didnt know them very well. They were all much older than me. We had cats, dogs, and gold fish. Life seemed to be much easier then.

I saw my first computer in 7th grade. Loved it and made a career of it. Currently I have been in the software business for 17 years. I worked on Microsofts Redmond campus. I worked for the Windows organization and have meet Bill Gates and other folks.

I have built software for the largest corporations on the planet. General Motors, Bank of America, Sears Roebuck, Baxter Healthcare, Proctor & Gamble, SAP, etc. All this from a small town boy from anywhere. Remember that! The world is yours.

So what do I want to do going forward. Currently I am managing multiple accounts in Delhi, India. Wow, what a place this is. You will come here next Friday. I cannot wait to see you. I hope you remember this experience.

I want to teach John. I want to show the world what I have learned and experienced. I feel this would be very satisfying for me. It is somewhat of a step down from the high powered positions I have held. However, I want to be in your life. I am travelling so much. This year I put 97,000 miles on a jet... Besides I miss you so much.

I love you tiger! Go get em! Dont take any shi*t from anyone. I got your back.

Saturday, September 8, 2007

Playing - 2007

You were three years old. So cute and happy. We used to have this game that we played called 'Jumps.' I remember the first time your mother saw us doing it, she was scared. Your Grandma from Bulgarias eyes popped out!! But you and I would laugh and have fun. What we would do is you would climb on the back of the couch and grab both of my fingers. You would then jump down on the sitting area from the top of the back of the couch. We would count 1,2,3... to 10 for every jump. I would lift you up a little bit when you hit the couch and you would go pretty high. After we got 10 jumps in I would tackle you on the couch and tickle your stomach and you would laugh. If you had your way you would do it all day. You father just got tired and you got heavy! It was a lot of fun.

Another game we played was Catch Johnny. Catch Johnny was a game of tag where I would chase you through the kitchen-living room-hallway-and back into the kitchen in a loop. We would go around and around and then I would turn around an hide by a door and catch you and pick you up and carry you over to the couch and tickle you. It was fun.

We also learned how to play hide and seek. You would try to count to 10 and I would hide and you would look for me. After you found me I would count to 10 and look for you. You would hide on top of the couch with a blanket over you. I would pretend that I couldnt see you and walk right by. You would laugh as I would walk by but I pretended not to see you.

We could do all these things for hours John. They were a blast... I love you buddy.

Travel & Experience Life

Travel and see the world. You are not only a citizen of the United States but you are an EU citizen and can travel freely through Europe. This is very important as you have choices that others do not. Always continue to learn new things and new cultures. By the time you were four you have seen Europe twice, travelled to India, and criss-crossed the United States. You have had a passport before you could walk.

My job is to expose you to the world and its riches. I want you to see and experience life. Make friends with persons all over the world. Eat foods from different cultures. Some of the finest people I know are from around the world. Go through life with an open mind, eat food from different cultures, explore the worlds history, and experience life through your eyes.

Treat people with respect. Not everyone will share your values but learning about their culture is fun and exciting.

My mother is Cuban, your Grandma. She didnt expose me or my brothers and sisters to Spanish langauge. I guess my father didnt want us to speak a language he couldnt understand. Well, that is not going to happen to you. You will get exposure to Bulgarian, Spanish, and any language you choose. Keep an open mind John. Being able to communicate with people is very important. Communication and relationships are the most important things you will have in life.

Sunday, September 2, 2007

People

One of the most important things you will do in your life is choose people. You have a choice in who your friends are, where you work, and who you choose to marry. Be very careful with people John. People are very strange, most I have met have been somewhat cynical, selfish, and cruel. I am not trying to tell you not to meet people, but I am trying to tell you to be selective. Make sure your friends, lovers, and people in your life show good character. People generally show their real selves after a few months. Make sure you take your time in letting people into your life.

My best friend in high school committed suicide. His character was seriously flawed. He was always trying to take advantage of people. He was a thief. After high school I learned he stole clothing. He was always saying how much money he was going to make. I am not sure what happened but one day I received a phone call and he was gone. He destroyed his family with his last act of selfishness.

Another so called friend of mine became a drug addict. He smoked pot and his life went down hill. He was the life of the party. He flunked out of school and never took on any major responsibility. His father takes care of him today. One of the last times I saw him, we were 19. He drove his car over a rail road track that was a 45 degree angle and about 6 feet high. I was in the car and we jumped about 20 feet. We were very lucky that no one was hurt. The car was totalled and he wasnt making the payments so it got repossessed by the bank and his grandma had to pay it off. Horrible.

Girls will be a different topic all together.

I want to say that your mom was the best decision I have ever made. I waited until I found her and it was worth it. She is great. She loves our family, she is the family. She is responsible, frugal, smart, strong, and very tough. She adores you. One thing you must do is make sure she never struggles. Make sure she has a home. I dated many women that I thought I wanted to marry and that I loved. You could bundle all the love that I had for all of those women and it wouldnt add up to the love I have for your mom. She is my stone. She loves you.

My mom and dad. Thank goodness for them. Growing up as a child was great. My father was a dentist and we did well financially. We had a nice home in Lima, Ohio. We didnt want for much and I was somewhat spoiled materially. I wanted it I got it. What I didnt get was a lot of direction and supervision. I was pretty much on my own. I was raised by a black woman that we pet named - GI GI. Gi Gi died when I was in forth grade. She was my real mother.

My mom and dad and your mom have taught me alot about parenting. Your mom taught me all the right things to do and my Mom and Dad taught me all the things I shouldnt do.

Stand your ground with people. Be smart about it. But if someone is giving you crap you smartly deal with that person. Work is difficult enough without good people in your life. Keep taking chances at work or what ever you decide to do as a career. You will always have a home to come to if things get bad. I love you, dont forget that. I dont want you to be a slave to the system. I hope you are able to define your work life.

Work will be another topic. I am sure we will revisit this subject.