I am grateful that I have had the benefit of strong fatherly influences in my life, however none of them have been of a traditional nature.  Neither my natural father, nor step-father, are men of character who I choose to associate with.  Rather both of them served primarily as examples of men who are unworthy of the title of father, and not only because they failed to live up to the expectations of a young man who was raised in the era of Leave It To Beaver re-runs on television. Thus over the years when I have required fatherly advice, I have sought the counsel of other men in the community who I have respected and admired. (more…)