A Father's Day Tribute

My dad--Marty Hodges

Tomorrow is Father's Day. I am thankful to have several men in my life who have demonstrated a fatherly presence. I'm married to a man who is a great father to my kids. And of course, there is my heavenly Father.

But I want to share with you a little about my dad.

Dad passed away three years ago. We didn't always see eye-to-eye. But he was my dad, and I loved him very much. He'd had a lousy childhood, and was an only child. Despite all that, he always provided for us, and was always there when we needed him. He was a math professor. Numbers made sense to him, and he had a remarkable gift of making math understandable for many.

I find my dad popping up in my writing. In Fusion, my main character struggles in her relationship with her father. The problem really falls on her shoulders, but misunderstanding creates tension between the two. Redic Clairet, who appears in several of the Crown's Call novels, is comprised of everything good in my dad. Protector. Advisor. Father. Yeah, my dad is always there.

My dad taught me how to play chess as a child. He had several sets, for playing and for admiring. Since his passing, I am now in possession of his chessboards. They are precious to me. While I enjoyed playing the game with him (I'm certain he let me win most of the time!), I never developed a passion for the game itself. However, I am intrigued with the "idea" of the game. This led to writing Xadrez, a novel based on a human chess match. I created characters to correspond with each chess piece and set the plot amidst a battle between two opposing sides. This one is solely dedicated to my dad.

So, on this Father's Day, I lift my chin and smile at the blue sky. I know my dad is hanging out with God and watching over us until we all get to be together again. My heart is grateful for the things my dad gave me--a love of classical music, a strong sense of being there for family, and a logical, analytical side that often clashes with my creative side. And for the inspiration. For coming back to life through my characters. For loving me across time and space. I miss you, Dad. And I love you.

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A friend of mine found this in a textbook manual. They quoted my dad. Like I said, he had a gift.