So I find that I do best biking when I listen to either talk radio or a book on tape.

I know… you’re not supposed to listen to music while biking, but I can’t help it.  I don’t turn it up loud, I can hear cars coming from way down the street, and have never had someone say something at me while biking that I didn’t know. N0w I’m listening Dune on tape.  I’m loving it.  I haven’t read Dune in years, and for some reason Sam brought it up last week and we watched it (the SciFi Channel Version) over the weekend.

So I’m listening to it and I come across this quote:

There is probably no more terrible instant of enlightenment than the one in which you discover your father is a man — with human flesh.

So he’s obviously talking about the death of his father, or the idea that your father is mortal.  It got me thinking.

My father may not be the Kwisatz Haderach, but damned if he isn’t a Charpentier.  Not that being a Charpentier carries the same notion with others of my family as it does with me.  I always use the excuse “I’m a Charpentier” to push myself further.  It’s a reason to trust my body when I get sick, that it would let me know if I needed to see a doctor (Charpentier Genes!!!).  It’s a reason to exercise, and not be happy about being out of shape.  It’s a reason to bike 50 miles completely unprepared for.  It’s a reason for getting frustrated when someone passes me while I’m biking or running.  I’m a Charpentier, I should be able to keep up.  And overall, I’m a Charpentier I’ll get by, I can do that regardless of not being prepared.  I’ll persevere.

Cause I’m a Charpentier.

This is in no small part because of my father.  He’s a pretty aged (65) and still looks like he could kick my ass.  Or at least take me in wrestling.  He’s been a role model for a lot of my life, like I assume many fathers are.  He’s also pretty indestructible.  He survived Vietnam, the 70’s, having his knee tore up, being run over by a Jeep Wrangler and 5 children.  FIVE Kids. 3 of them girls.  He’s still sane, in good shape, and can follow conversation with someone without even looking like he’s paying attention (its a pretty impressive ability).

My dad rocks.  And while I’m not sure where I’m going with this post, that quote in Dune made me think of him.

Cause while he has shown signs of aging, and is probably mortal, I’m not entirely convinced yet that he isn’t immortal either. And that only adds to all the other stuff that already makes him pretty amazing.

My brother, Dad and myself.