I realized I have posted serveral references to my favorite son Tyler, but have yet to introduce my favorite daughter Tiffany in my stories. As with Tyler, there is much to brag about Tiffany, and I struggle knowing where to start. But really neither has been formally introduced. So with Tiff as the first-born, I will go last with her….

The Favorite Son lives in Austin. As a young man, he is trying to start his life-after-college and a professional career as soon as possible. All the while, he is nurturing a shared life with a wonderful young lady (Tammy will most likely become the Favorite Daughter-in-law one day – but no pressure now you guys) and he better take good care of her. Growing up, Tyler never truly fit the role of “Bubba”. Therefore he became “Beeba” to me. He is my son and one of my best friends. He helps me see things, do things, and understand things – a youthful vision, we are still a bit competitive, and he instructs me on electronic gadgetry. Tyler got it all together about 4 years ago. After struggling with charting his own course and dealing with the lingering remnants of high school memories, good old Mr. Hard came knocking on his door. Tyler answered the door with the innocence of a young child and accepted the consequences with the grace of one much older than he. He is a recent college grad now trying to employ his marketing degree in the real world. I am most proud of his accomplishments, maturation, and the direction his life is taking. Now please somebody…give him a marketing job.

The Favorite Daughter lives in New York City. As a young lady, she too is patiently waiting for her “big break” to jump start her career (even a NYU degree is tough to employ in the City). Tiffany also has nicknames – “T”, “Tif”, “Tiffer”, “T-Baby”, “Sunshine”, and “Sweets” – only because her three syllable name seemed too long to pronounce in public. She is the adventurer of the family. Her personality has traits that define her life and attractiveness as a person. She is my daughter and one of my best friends. She helps me try things, do unusual things, and accept things – do something different, be silly and off-the-wall with her, and “that’s the way it is so let’s move on”. Her love to be the first, travel, theatre, comedy, and living right makes up who she really is, and will continue to become. She has already accumulated experiences some people wait a lifetime for: numerous stamps in her passport, watching the World Trade Center towers collapse, winning a state theater championship in high school, a NYU education, and spending quality time with her grandparents to name a few. Tiffer has always been a go-getter and Mom and I only tried to rein in her ambitions when we saw the cliff getting too close (and that got expensive sometimes). She has been independent yet remained the glue of the family despite the geographic distance between us. She shares a life with Mark – a fine young man that better take good care of her. I am most proud of her integrity, genuineness, and goals in life. Now please somebody…please give her an acting job.

These two have pulled off a couple of things lately that used to the Dad job. Tiff and Ty gave me a Father’s Day like no other this year. Tyler traveled by car to play golf with me and my family; Tiffany bought a plane ticket to join us on the trip. I knew about Tyler but had nary a clue of Tiff’s flight and surprise visit. Apologies are extended to Beeba for my irrigation with him when he turned off the highway to get her at the airport…against my explecit, fatherly driving instructions of course. Then they topped it off by sending Deb and I a neat photo book of special times we’ve spent together over the last few years.

My vision of Sweets and Beeba will never be erased regardless of how old they are or I get. They are neat, cool, and special (they got that from their Mom). I think it could be said I really “like” my kids – I only hope they “like” me just half as much. Now both of you…find a job!

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