Every now and then, Dad visits us for a few days. Here, you can see him in a game of pool with me and my son (not pictured) this past week. Of course, they both kicked my ass because I’m a better photographer than I am a pool player. Truth is the three of us really suck at pool. But we had fun.

My father is old-school in many ways. He’s worked for H.E.B. for over 50 years. He likes pool, Schlitz beer, and cigarettes. He can tell a dirty joke, too. He has that haircut (which is actually in style with a lot of the rockabilly guys around here). He wears a watch. His ear isn’t pierced. He believes in God the way the bible tells it, mostly.

In some ways, that makes the two of us almost completely different. I don’t think I could sign-up with anything for over 50 years, except my wife. I like video games, a little wine and cheese now and then, and I’d find something better to smoke than cigarettes, if I smoked at all. My hair is either long, or really short. A watch? I got a phone with the time on it. Got two places for earrings in the same ear. And I’ve got my fingers crossed about God. But, I usually feel left out of that club.

We’re very different. But if you looked beyond the surface, we’re not really completely different. We’re both rebellious in our own ways. We’re both hard working guys. We like Johnny Cash, want the country to get back on track, want to be good to our kids. And we both really miss my Mom.

I’m an adopted kid, so I really look nothing like my Dad. But Mom always noticed I walk just like him. I think even as a kid, I knew he was cool. Well, at least he’s cool the way I see it.