A little about my blood relations. If I have any, none have ever stepped forward to state so.

Now, as I approach my senior years in life, I look back and could not care less. Allow me to make this sentence perfectly clear. I COULD NOT GIVE TWO SHAKES TO A SHIT! Plain enough?

I was adopted at the tender age of twelve years old by a man who worked as a music rigger for many Country Music shows around Music City. These include venues such as Tootsie' s Orchid Lounge, the Bluebird Cafe, and many others.

Through my Dad's job, and connections, I have a long line of famous Entertainers including Bill Anderson, the Whisperer himself, Jean Shephard, Jack Greene, and my all-time favorite, the Tall Texan, Billy Walker. I have had the pleasure of unforgettable memories with these Grand Ole Opry Legends and many others. All acquaintances I treasure and would never have come to know any other way.

As I detailed in my autobiography Unwanted Dog, I grew up in a home for boys called Hermitage Hall where severe consequences were meted out for the most minor offenses, at the end of a doubled-in-half strap on bare skin! That was until I ran away.

Not a fan of Wal-Mart, but if not for said big box store, I never would have begged money from a man I did not know. When a growing boy is hungry, you do what you have to in order to survive day to day. More than that, I never would have been adopted by this same wonderful man. Again, all this I detailed in Unwanted Dog.

In addition to providing me a life I never would have had otherwise, Dad also brought out my love of creative writing. But, I will leave that story for another time.

Dad, you have been gone sixteen years and I miss you every day. How do I say thank you for all you did for me, and all you gave to me? Most importantly, what you gave me is someone, YOU, who proved any man can be a father, but not every man can be a Dad. If I was half the Dad you didn't have to be then perhaps I accomplished something meaningful in my life. I love you!