I have lived through many "what if's" in my life.

On Aug. 11, 2012 a huge one came along. My loving, unselfish, caring Dad passed away after being diagnosed with angiosarcoma and then lung cancer.

For quite some time he knew there was something seriously wrong with his health but didn't want to worry anyone, especially mom. But despite this side of my Dad he also loved attention; as I thought. He was in our small town newspaper several times for many reasons.

I was jealous of how he genuinely cared about everyone he came into contact with, even if he didn't know them. See, I grew up with an alcoholic father who got more attention than me. Two years before he died he was awarded senior citizen of the year. Everywhere I went people knew "Ole", and told a story about how he helped them during a part of his life.

I learned more about my Dad after he was gone than ever before. I finally realized why, and had no reason to be jealous of the attention I thought I wasn't getting. All I needed to do was be aware of what words could never express. He had enough love to go around, I just needed to learn to share the love that was always there for me as well as so many others in his life.

What if I would have done that? What if I would have realized all he did unselfishly and unknowingly for everyone. It's too late for "what if", but only to learn from this and try to be more like him. My Dad-Orvel Olson from Roseau, MN. 4/27/28-9/11/12.