Armando Moreno,  my father passed away June 28th, 2006.  I miss him daily.  We were dear friends at the time of his death.  But perhaps better expressed we were great friends throughout my life and his as well.  I will tell many stories about my father over the years some expressed in words  and many expressed in print.  I know nothing will ever replace the actual events in my life with  dad, yet sharing  stories and putting  down a few words can be very therapuetic for me.  Some make me laugh out load when  I type and others make me cry.  They all however,  when I am done make me feel better. 

 This year I also lost my first mentor.  Henry Sanchez,  had a soft spot in his heart for me.  I loved Henry like a father.  Henry brought me into the janitorial business in 1984. Hank was the founder of Acme Building Maintenance.   Twenty three years later,  his mentorship still plays a role in my life.  His son Rick and his daughters, Kathy, lori, and Lianne have always had special place in my heart as well.  I will miss "Hank".

Dillard Davis was the father of Tony Davis.  Tony Davis and I were business aquaintances. In 1987,  I was a manager working for Acme Building Maintenance.  That's right, the company owned by Mr. Sanchez.  Tony was a facilities manager working at one of my accounts.  Tony and I became fast friends.  Eventually we became roomates.  I met Mr. Davis several times over the years.  It was obvious, Mr. Davis had an instrumental hand in Tony's development.  Tony met his wife Kim when he and I were living together in my first condo. Several years later,  Tony and Kim are great friends of ours.  Kim is our children's pediatrician and Kim and Tony are Our Daughter Kennedy's God Parents. I did not know Mr. Davis well,  yet I am thankful for his legacy.  

Many of our fathers are entering the december of their lives.  I know one thing for certain.  Dad, Hank and Dillard are in a wonderful place looking down on their son's cold beer in their hands and toasting a job well done.