Raising Callan without an instruction manual required immense dedication over the next fourteen years. I quickly learned how to trim his hair for his second grade school pictures and dutifully packed his peanut butter and jelly sandwiches every morning for nearly a decade. Navigating life as a single father meant occasionally missing expensive work shifts whenever Callan ran high fevers or broke his arm. I was fortunate to have a loyal coworker named Wayne who frequently covered my service bays so I could attend school events without losing my job. I made sure to show up for every milestone in his young life while Carson remained completely absent, never once calling to check on his child. In spite of that absence, Callan matured into a tall and athletic teenager with a remarkably powerful hockey shot. By his senior year at his high school in Madison, he was averaging eighteen points a game and earning widespread recognition throughout our local sports community.
