Well dad, it has been 8 years now. I miss you, we put Mila to sleep on August 2nd, I imagine she's up there with you. We got a new dog a few months ago, her name is Anastasia, Ana for short... this dog is insanely hyper, is a chewer, chews on anything and everything she finds outside... she eats trash, not food out of the trash... actual trash. She's not Mila, not at all. I was raised as a MM finally last year, I haven't been active since then. Everyone is so much older and it just isn't enjoyable. I'm still driving the t100, it's got a little over 122k on it now, I'm hoping it'll last another 2-3 years so I can buy another toyota truck. I was going to buy a house, and got approved for 70k... but nothing in Speedway for that price range. I've been at this job with DHS (never told you about Homeland Security, it was made after the terrorist attacks that leveled the World Trade buildings and also took out a portion of the Pentagon and a a 4th plane was downed in a field on setember 11th 2001.)... I'm an accounting tech and it is an insanely boring job. We start observing daylight savings this year. IPD and MCSD merged and they become one department sometime soon. The colts almost made it to the Super Bowl and are getting a new stadium. The State Police lowered their recruiting standards, then a few months later decided that they are instead going to try and recruit people who lose jobs when the IPD/MCSD merger takes effect. I still want to be a LEO but I've got a lot of weight to lose still. I don't know if Speedway has any openings or if they will anytime soon, but I wouldn't mind working for them, however doing State Police is my dream. Billy is going to school for Criminal Justice down in Columbus. He wants to be a LEO too but his record will probably keep him from doing it, unless he gets on with some county mounties in a small county or on some small town pD. Joe still isn't doing too well. Grandpa Jack has stopped doing presents for christmas to everyone, and is starting to get pretty bad healthwise. Haven't heard from Kurt or Dough since you died, I've seen Kurt 2 or 3 times but thats about it. Melvin Carroway isn't ISP super anymore, he took some private job somewhere in Vegas I believe. I miss you. I can't believe it has been 8 years, I really can't. I wish you were still here, we could go to lodge meetings and suppers together, you'd love this Battle Field 2 video game on the computer, there have been some great movies. Some crazy things have happened since you've been gone, gas went past 3.50 a gallon for a while last year after a chain of events happened by hurricanes, the 9/11 attacks, and some other stuff. I also found these interesting vacations you would have loved. Be a spy for a few days, or an urban commando, or dive with sharks, take a tour of a seabed in an observation sub, do a HALO jump, take a ride in the vomit comet and experience weightlessnes, stunt driving... a public smoking ban went into effect in Marion County and Carmel not too long ago, one goes into effect in Greenwood soon, I imagine Avon and Plainfield will follow soon. I know I haven't visited you in a while... but like the Mary Frye poem I read at your funeral...
Do not stand at my grave and weep,

I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glint on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you wake in the morning hush,

I am the swift, uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circling flight.

I am the soft starlight at night.

Do not stand at my grave and weep.

I am not there, I do not sleep.

Do not stand at my grave and cry.

I am not there, I did not die!
I get emotional when I visit it, and I know you wouldn't want that. I miss you dad.