stoicism

The Invisible Geek

2 months ago

The author recalls a memory of playing catch with his father as a teenager, which ended abruptly when a curveball hit his father in the groin.
The father is described as a stoic, introverted geek with few friends, who lived a life marked by rationality, cynicism, and a focus on fulfilling obligations.
He worked on the same codebase for 40 years, prioritized family commitments like attending kids' activities, and valued autonomy and honesty, often disappointed by others' failures.
After losing his vision due to glaucoma and CRT exposure before retirement, he became dependent, which conflicted with his self-sufficient ideals, and he later died after surgery complications.
The author reflects on rare emotional moments from his father, such as anger over a soccer game or pride during milestones, and expresses gratitude for his constant presence.