Hello,

My dad lost a desperate, prolonged battle with cancer and he died when I was just eight years old. Losing my dad made me shy and insecure, and it was hard for me to make friends as a child.

But Dad would always say, “As long as you laugh at something, it can never beat you.”

I’ve learned so much about him through his college friend, Kurt Vonnegut. Yep, that Kurt Vonnegut — one of the best and most prolific American writers of all time.

When I was Mayor of Denver, we hosted a roast for a charity organization. Kurt was all too eager to take the stage and call me a “dork,” “dweeb,” “twerp,” and “nothing but a mayor.” It was a great night.

Kurt passed away 14 years ago today, but I will always carry his lessons about life and this wacky universe with me. I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to “hang out” with my dad through him.

To the man, the myth, and the legend: You are missed.

— Hick