I come from a long line of skeptics

well maybe not so long

let's see there's me

and then there was my dad

at least I think he was a skeptic

he never said too much

but he had a natural dislike

for people who were braggers or liars

or who liked to flaunt their money

or their position

he had common sense

and common man's perspective

which means he could spot an jerk

at 20 yards

he hated people who

liked to put on airs and show off

and preferred his bottle of beer in silence

to dumb conversation with stupid people

he knew who he was in his own skin

and he expected other people

to be true and forthright

and not BS

he believed in the values of

hard work and family and

honest pay for an honest days work

he was raised that way

and that was what he

passed down to me.