A note to the universe

Happy birthday Dad, I miss you.

Today was my dads birthday, he died just after midnight a year ago today. I wish that I could have shared with him my accomplishments this last year. I know in my heart he knows, but I still would have liked to see his face and hear him say "ay yup" with his strong Maine accent and his pipe in the corner of his mouth.

I made this book after he died. My dad had the longest obituary I think I have ever seen, full of all his accomplishments as a Mason. I cut up his obituary and collaged it into the book and painted Masonic symbols to go along with it.

He came from a long line of Masons. Growing up I never really understood what he used to do at all those meetings. Over the years I asked my dad about the Masons and found it to be a really interesting organization full of symbolism, ritual and mystery. It was his path to living a good life with moral integrity. The Masonic organization was the most important thing in my dads life, it defined who he was, and I think it made him a great man.