My father called me tonight. This isn’t a normal thing. Normally, if someone calls, it’s my mother. But Dad’s not home, he’s in Ossipee, New Hampshire, hunting.

And that’s not normal either. He was supposed to leave New Hampshire and head back to Florida on Monday. But he got a phone call from his friend Bill’s wife.

Bill passed away on Saturday night.

This was no surprise. Bill had been suffering with cancer for some time; it had spread throughout his body. My father visited Bill in North Carolina on his drive up a few weeks ago, expecting it would be his last chance to see his friend.

On the phone, Bill’s wife told Dad that his ashes would be split and spread in his three favorite locations: North Carolina, where he grew up; St. Croix, where he lived for twelve years; and Ossipee, New Hampshire, his favorite hunting grounds.

My father is going to stay in New Hampshire. He and a few of their hunting friends are going to spread Bill’s ashes in the same woods they spent every November in since long before I was born. He’s going to miss Thanksgiving at home with his wife, but this is something that means much more than honoring an American tradition – this is honoring a lifelong friendship.

I’ve been complaining about my mustache, counting the days until I can shave it off. But from now through the end of the month, I will proudly wear my Mo, and every dollar I raise will be in Bill’s honor. This Movember, it’s for Bill.

If you would like to help me raise finds for cancer research, please consider making a donation on my Movember page. And thank you.