I did not have to climb a mountain and consult with a wise man to learn the meaning of life, it came looking for me twenty three years ago.

Some are born with a gentleness of spirit and a love for humanity.

Others are born with a chip on their shoulder and a combative nature.

I guess you would put me in that latter category.

It wasn't that I was completely anti-social. I was a good and loyal friend, and would never think of using physical aggression against a woman, but for the rest of the world it was "watch your step."

I was constantly engaging in physically challenging activities and pushed myself to the very brink of my body's limitations.  And then I pushed just a little bit more. It was not at all uncommon for me to spend up to five hours a day running, climbing, lifting, kicking, or punching until I had burned through enough energy,of what seemed an endless reservoir of energy, to finally be able to sleep.

I fought in martial arts competitions, boxing matches, and even street brawls.  I also taught self defense courses, worked as a personal trainer, made extra money by teaching exhibition fighters full contact Karate techniques, and worked occasionally as a bouncer or a bodyguard.

You get the picture?

But then one day my world changed.

I will never forget that day. It was without a doubt one of the most beautiful spring days I had ever seen, and the sun was just rising up to kiss the morning sky as I left my house that morning.

When I climbed into my car that day I was a lean mean ass kicking machine, and twelve hours later I was reduced to a damp eyed, emotionally drained, marshmallow.

What could have done such a thing you ask?  Not what, who.

Just look at her. Have you ever seen anything more beautiful?

Well I sure hadn't.  She stole my heart, opened my eyes, and gave my life an entirely new meaning the second that I held her in my arms.  I had never felt anything as powerful as the overwhelming love that I felt for her.

In school I learned from reading about Copernicus and Galileo that the sun was the center of our solar system and that all the planets revolved around it.  But they were wrong.  The center of our solar system, hell the whole universe, is in the picture up above, lying on her blanket, and laughing at that silly orange bear.

In other words...

                                                                                                                    ....I was a goner.

Now it is twenty three years later and, after spending much of her life in Georgia living with her mom, my little girl has decided that she wants to settle up here in Alaska with her dear old dad.

That is great news right?  You betcha!

Do you feel a "but" coming on?  Good instincts.

But....my daughter did not simply ask for a ticket to fly up here.  Oh no! Not MY strong willed, always up for an adventure daughter.  She wanted to drive up the freaking ALCAN!  And with a bunch of her friends, in an old RV she purchased just for the trip, no less.

Now my daughter is a very capable young woman, but this trip of hers is absolutely kicking my ass!  She left eight days ago and, even though she had a mechanic check over the vehicle top to bottom before she left, she has had one fairly major mechanical problem after another.

So far she has had to replace the transmission, install a new generator, and currently they are working on the wiring.  And she has not even made it to Canada yet!

Anyhow if it appears to any of you that I might be a little distracted, or crabby, or even downright hostile, I apologize.  But until she arrives safe and sound I cannot promise that I will not snap a little at criticism, or that there won't be a little more bite to some of my posts.  Those things might very well happen.

You see right now my whole world is sleeping in St. Louis, waiting for the okay from the mechanic to continue her journey through Canada and to the safety of her father's house in Anchorage, Alaska.  So until that day arrives I would appreciate your patience and, even though I am not much of a believer in prayer, if you could send a little positive energy her way for a safe journey I would be forever grateful.

After all if it was not for her, this blog would not even exist.

Namaste my friends.