John Walsh

About 3 years ago I stumbled across his book, Tears of Rage, his autobiography. I didn't want to read it. I only picked it up out of sheer curiosity and maybe a little boredom. I read the first page and was hooked. I was actually in a model home at the time, in the middle of job when I was working in Pest Control. I sat down on one of those overstuffed couches and took a break to read a little bit. I wasn't on a tight schedule that day, so time just kind of got away from me. Before I knew it, and hour or so had passed and I was crying.

I read until I couldn't take it anymore. I was literally sick to my stomach. What happened to his son, to his family...is just the worst possible scenario ever. I kept thinking of my own sons as I read it, and it was just too much to take. I got up and continued on with my day, trying to shake the bad feelings the book had brought up. It ended up taking many, many days to shake them loose.

So today, when I heard and saw that they had finally solved and were closing Adam's case...I was overjoyed for the man. Seeing the raw emotion come out, and hearing the relief in his voice left me crying again. What a legacy he has left in his son's name. He turned an impossible to deal with situation into something impossibly proactive and successful. To date, 1049 fugitives have been arrested because of what he chose to do in his grief to honor his son. Not small time criminals, these are bad, bad people who are no longer out roaming the streets. That is just awesome.

I have an ever growing list of role models in fatherhood I look up to and try and emulate. Right near the top is John Walsh.