In the loving memory of Father Dragon, "The Great"

Our lives are marked by the people we meet in our path. Every human being leaves an impact on others. Today, the one dragon that taught me to dream, the one who initiated me in the wonderful world of books and writers and fantastic places has left this world.

He was Father Dragon, "The Great", also known as "Grandpa". He was the most spectacular of all story tellers, able to mesmerize two dozen children for endless hours. He was the wisest being I've met, the bravest. His willpower and determination to overtake any obstacle or illness was worth of legends. He taught me about his greatest love and passion: knowledge. Sky was the limit for him and he was larger than life.

If I would make a list of all the things he learned during his long life, I would never end. There was one thing that always identified him, his willingness to laugh. He laughed at good jokes and bad jokes, he laughed in health and in pain. He laughed in wealth and in poverty. He laughed his way through life and the last thing I saw in his face was a smile.

I was highly honored to meet this wonderful one of a kind soul and I was blessed to learn from him. I'm proud to say the very best I've got in me comes from him. The very first and original Al Diaz.

Godspeed, Alfonso Diaz. I know we'll meet again, in my stories, in your stories, in every magic world where wise dragons exist and in that timeless place where all spirits gather sooner or later. Godspeed, Abuelo.