My father lost his battle with Alzheimer’s on Dec. 27, 2019. Since then, every holiday season has been bittersweet. While I know in my heart my dad has his memory back and he is with his family and friends solving all of the world’s problems, there is still an emptiness in missing his words of wisdom and guidance.

Why do I bring this up? Why during a Christmas season full of celebrating a birth am I speaking of the loss of a loved one? It comes down to family.

Cherish every single day. I recently attended the funeral for a wonderful friend; a father, a son, and a brother who was younger than me. The strength his children showed during the service struck me deeply. It was an opportunity for me to lean back on the memories I have with their father, and the memories I have with my own children.

It’s funny – I am sitting in the mayor’s office at City Hall writing this letter, thinking of my dad, my friend, and all the memories of both of those men. And I am smiling.

I read a passage at the funeral that basically stated, “You can mourn the loss or celebrate the life.” I’ve got so many great memories of my father, and many of those are from the Christmas season: Memories of six kids, 10 pounds of D-cell batteries, assembly instructions, and a pile of shoes at the front door.

My dad means the world to me, and I choose to celebrate the life he lived. As Minot continues to grow, it’s still small enough that I frequently run into my dad’s friends. I’ve known some of them for more than 50 years, and some I am just meeting for the first time. I know they are friends because they call my dad “Billy.” Some even go so far to say “Billy was the best damn crane operator in Minot.” I don’t know about that, but I do know is he was the best damn father I could ever ask for.
As we inch closer to Christmas every day, my messages to you are this:

Cherish your family. Cherish them now, and cherish their memories. I know we are not supposed to live in the past, but we can learn from the past, and what “Billy” taught me are lessons I am looking forward to teaching my own children.
Since becoming your Mayor, I have worked very hard to see the positive in everything we do. To me every situation is an opportunity, either to teach or to learn. Or both.

I am choosing to celebrate the journey I am on. The holiday season is upon us, even if it doesn’t look like it outside. Let’s all remember the real reason behind the Christmas season. Celebrate the joys and blessings in your lives. Celebrate the memories of your family members who have passed on and those who are still here.

Above all, give a smile and a hug to someone this Christmas season.

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