This is an image of a very young Dad, as a Buddhist monk.
Thai sons, by tradition, are expected to enter the monkhood
at some point or another, although many do not. It is said that
doing so would bring blessings to your parents, so that they
may enter Nirvana when their time comes.

Dad loved his parents, but especially his mother very much
and he was very proud of his time as a monk.

My Dad was a very kind and spiritual man. He prayed often.
In following with Buddhist traditions, he refrained from
killing insects, animals, and never wanted to hurt anyone.
He would even try to get mice out of their traps if he saw
them there.

He often gave people on the street money if they asked,
even if he himself had only a few dollars left in his
pocket.

Yet, at the end of his life, he was hit with one of the
worst cancer diagnosis anyone could get. I am not bitter
about anything, I understand the cycle of life and that anyone
could die from anything. But I did learn a painful lesson
that making merit does not necessarily work the way you
might think, and that being "good" all your life does
not necessarily guarantee a peaceful ending.