Today, 28 August, marks 27 years since the death of my father, Leonard Joseph Lacey. He was born into a world of difficulty and hardship, and lived his life often in the shadow of tragedy and heartbreak. Yet he accomplished much and lived a full life with many adventures, opportunities, and successes. The challenges he faced and struggled to overcome often compelled him to make poor choices in lifestyle habits, many of which were socially acceptable but with health consequences not well known a quarter and a half century ago and more. I would like to think that I learned at least a few lessons from him and took his example and became a better and more responsible healthy individual personally. I never smoked tobacco; used liquor in a substantially smaller quantity, particularly after age 30; stopped drinking coffee in 1996; have tried to eat more fruits and vegetables; not let stress get to me; and keep my circumstances in perspective ( but I am nowhere near perfect).-
It would have a great help for me and my siblings and their families to have had him in their lives these last 27 years, but his spirit carries on in many ways that we are not even aware of on a regular basis. He did good in spite of all the obstacles and challenges in his way and his legacy is six offspring with nine grandchildren who are wonderful and beautiful people with years of continued success, achievement, contentment, and happiness ahead.
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I miss you, Dad, and I love you. I have never been or ever will be the man you were and are.
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