Having something to say...

March 26, 2014

Salt Lake City, Utah

Dear Dad,

When we last talked on the phone, you said something that stuck with me. You said that, "We don't have much to say to each other."

I don't think that's true. I think we have a lot to say to each other. We've just never been good at actually saying it.

You've always said that you came into the world from the ground up and I came into it from the sky down. That's why we don't really understand each other. I've come to accept this as a defining characteristic of our relationship but that never meant that I liked it. Whenever I told people about how you described us, I would always add that, "I hope we'll meet somewhere in the middle."

I remember growing up that I didn't much care for working outside. But when I came to live with you in 2001-2002, I actually enjoyed the opportunity to help you with things like mending fences and making that Fathers Day video about you when you were cutting grass for the goats with your scythe.

When I had the opportunity to help my friend Sandy with projects around her house, like building her chicken coop, I told her that I have you to thank for all the things I had learned from you in being able to build it. I'm so glad that you got to see it when you and Gayle came to visit in 2012.

I guess if there's something that I really want to say to you, it's this: I want you to be proud of me.

I want you to know that I work really hard at what I do. That my efforts are noticed and I've built a good reputation in the Utah film community. I want you to understand that making movies, whether I'm acting or working on the set, isn't easy. It's hard work and me and my colleagues put in a lot of time and energy to do what we do.

But, most importantly, I want you to know that it's what makes me happy.

That little movie that I made about you is one that I'm very proud of and I've shown it to a lot of people and they really like it.

I showed it to my girlfriend, Danica. And I'm glad that you got to meet her. I love her very much and she's an important part of my life. And she loves me and is very supportive of the work that I do. She makes me happy. We make each other happy.

I got a phone call yesterday from a movie producer. I'm being hired to work on a film for the next couple of weeks. It will be about 12 days and probably 12+ hour days. I'm getting paid over $100 per day and I'm looking forward to paying off some debts with this money.

I hope things are going well for you. I'm glad that you're keeping busy and enjoying your time at your new place and that they have things for you to do there.

I hope you and Gayle can come down and visit me and Danica in Salt Lake City. I would love for you to meet her family.

I'll be in touch.

I love you.

Your son,

[signed]

Joseph L. Puente