The last time I saw my father was at my graduation ceremonies from Carnegie Mellon in May of 2003. Six weeks later he died of cardiac arrest at his home. In August I moved from Pittsburgh to my new job in the San Francisco Bay area.

Last July, a year after he died, I opened up my 'life savings' jar that I hadn't looked inside since living in Pittsburgh.

click to enlarge

Inside, written on a one dollar bill, was his final message to me: "If you keep this $ you'll have $ for a lifetime. -- If you spend it you are fucked."

I miss you dad. Happy Father's Day.