We were invited to iftar at my cousin's house tonight, and my father's long-time business associate and best friend was invited as well. As all my cousins, uncles and other members of the family sat together after eating, it was so painfully evident that there was an integral person missing from this gathering-my dad. Being there in spirit doesn't count... that's just bullshit talk for someone who's never lost anyone that means anything to them.

I can imagine that it's difficult for a lot of people to come to our house because Dad is gone, but we live and face this bitter fact every single day. Our house is strange without him, but we have him in us-so in essence he's still here.