I’ve never been much of a ‘morning person’. My father, by contrast, most certainly was. All the years I knew him, there was never a day wherein my father so much as even slept in. Not by my recollection, at any rate.

While no one has had a perfect childhood, many of us had a good childhood—even a great one. I, for my part, had a great childhood.

When I was a young boy, I had an imaginary friend. In fact, I had many imaginary companions. These make-believe friends of mine were...