Lone Wolf

I noticed something about this fellow that appeared different. He had a passionate way about him and exercised it in everything he did. There was nothing short in his desire for living. He experienced and accomplished many great things in his life, but they never seemed to satisfy him. There was an arrogance about him too, yet, he would never look you in the eye. His stature was larger than his medium build. Even in his older age, he was very fit and you could see that he prided himself in his appearance. They say these things are common in Texans. There was an openness about him. I don't believe he ever met a stranger. He was kind and helpful to people. Not an open, blatant giver, but one who chooses his own action with precision and, most importantly, completion. He often felt guilty for not doing more. He had a keen sense of knowing where the deficits were. His greatest obstacles, however, came when he was alone. He was easy to read. His inner conflict matched his outer persona. He remained fixed in his quests. He would never waiver from what he believed. He would openly and verbally describe where he stood. He threw no punches. I liked that about him.
He was not from around here. You could peer deeply at him and not see one ounce of pride. It was as if he knew pride once, but it had been stripped from him. You could sense an unguided anger about that. There was a nonviolent air about him also, but I would shy away from backing him into a corner. He loved pistols and would often carry one, but you knew he hoped he would never have to use it. He came from a rough and rugged childhood, like a secret society you can never understand or belong. He never used it as a trump card nor allow himself to be lumped into a genre. This was considered commonplace to him. If there were an ounce of pride, you would find it here. His father passed a while back, but he would never speak of him. There was a quiet resentment present accompanied by an unspoken forgiveness. He had family, but only visited from time to time. His life had evolved and it no longer included them. He was always a bit saddened by this.
He raised two children and was very fond of his relationship with his wife. He encouraged education and the attainment of knowledge. Both children received college degrees. He and his wife had four between them. Though not the scholarly type, he was nothing short of a master in all that he found precious. He was a survivor. He fancied music and the arts. He was a builder and creator. These attributes he held on the highest of pedestals and possessed very little sentimentality. He exhausted this talents to the fullest. A jack of all trades, master of none. It was rare that he ever returned to anything that he had tried or mastered. There was always something new to see, something different to do. He often had great spells of anguish and depression if there were no obstacles to overcome. Though he lived a passionate life, he found no sense of accomplishment or direction when he set out to conquer his spiritual side. This was his greatest blunder. He could do pretty much anything he set his mind to, but this remains his greatest obstacle: Understanding himself. Maybe this is where he will finish. Maybe this will be his last hurrah, but don't tell him that. r