I’d like to take a little time to share some thoughts and feelings heavy on my soul today – some that I’ve possessed since late 1999, some I’ve had since February of 2024; and some I’m dealing with lately.   They say “never meet your heroes..” But, in this case, I did. I spent hours on the phone with him, I finally met him after three years of phone calls. Even before I was ever in the same room with him, he had become family to me. I grew up without a father, and once had a grandfather figure who bailed when I was about 8 years old. In the last bit of my teenage years, Mr. Mills became a surrogate grandfather to me in many ways, and very-unfortunately, I didn’t realize that until February 18 th , 2024.   (To whomever created the idea of “never meet your heroes…”, GO find new heroes; because clearly, you’ve tragically missed out!!)   The sad and deeply-unfortunate fact about life, is that it too-often requires *death* for us to realize what’s important, what’...