I'ma try this again

I've not been able to do any cooking over the last few days. I've been in West Palm Beach with my wife, spending time with my father-in-law. He's in the final stages of liver cancer. If there is a more evil disease in the world than cancer, I'd like to know. Cancer sneaks up on you as you feel good. (you'll have to excuse any typos. I've had a couple of martinis tonight) It doesn't even show you any sign of its future until you already start to feel "not quite right." They treat you with poisons trying to kill the cancer. You lose your hair. You lose weight. But if you're lucky, you keep your friends and family. Let me talk about my father-in-law. Fred is one of the strongest, most intelligent men I have ever known in my life. He taught me so many things about my life I couldn't even begin to express the impact he has had on my life. As I sit here in the hospital room, listening to him snore, I reflect upon the difference he has made in my life. He taught me tha it's OK to dream, but not make dreams my master. He's taught me that if you believe it can happen, and you have the strength and gumption to make it happen, it will. He's taught me that no matter how hare-brained the idea may be, you can make it work if you put enough heart and soul into it. And he's taught me how to love unconditionally. As his liver fails, and his life comes to an end, I'm seeing sides of his family that I never knew existed. They rally together, spending time in each others' company, taking solace in the love of each other. It's refreshing. I know that my family loves each other, and that they are much like Fred's family, but I've been more exposed to this side of the family than I ever was to mine. The unconditional love that Fred has given to all of his family has blossomed into a love for him that cannot be measured. As he sleeps, I can't help but think what a wonderful gift he gave me when he gave me his blessing as I asked to marry his daughter. His acceptance of me has meant more to me than the acceptance of anybody else I have ever known. I am confident in the belief that he knows, even as his life ebbs before me, that I will do everything within my power to take care of his little girl. I will miss him. He has been a mentor to me. He has taught me how to succeed. I've not been the best of students, and I don't pretend to have half of his intellect, but he showed me that if you want it bad enough, it will happen so long as you have your head on straight and give it real effort. For someone who doesn't really believe in a "god" or an "afterlife," I take solace in the belief that his spirit will live on in the literally hundreds of people he has affected over his 79 years. Is not the strong, wonderful and fond memory people have of you not true "eternal life." If you live on in their lives you have obtained eternal life, no matter what god you do or do not believe in. Every man is the sum of his deeds in life, and this man lying in the hospital bed next to me is more man than I have ever had the good fortune to know in my life. Thank you Fred. Thank you for including you in my life. I will never forget you, and I can only hope to be half the man you have been.