Dad

May 6, 1956

Sarah

I love, "I just figured hey". I think I laughed for like hours over that saying over the years. It's SO dad. 

One of my best memories of dad is when he took us canoeing before school one morning in the humboldt bay. I was in elementary school. He wouldn't tell us where we were going while driving in the vw bus (even though there was a canoe strapped on the roof rack). So we pulled up to the dock and we were excited and anxious. It was a bright clear, cold morning and we wore our beat up life jackets and tried to help dad move the canoe through the water. I remember bragging to my friends for years about how my dad took us canoeing before school ALL THE TIME (which I think he really only took us that one time). It was so awesome! I had no other friends who's dad ever did that! 

Another memory I have is when we hiked the JMT with Laurel. That will forever go down in my mind's recesses as the time when I truly got to know Dad. No pressures on time, no outside stresses. Just conversations meandering through the wilderness for 17 days. I count myself lucky to have had that experience with Dad. Truly, he had no choice. Laurel and I are very persuasive! :)

Happy Birthday Dad.

Hannah

Daddy's hoooooooome. The crowds of children would run frantically out the front door and to the volkswagon bus that pulled up with hard-working dad in it. Outside the Oregon Street house was a party when Dad came home. There were usually 3 children dripping from his arms, another few from his legs and others were fighting to get part of one of his limbs. He always had a smile on his face, seemed happy to see his sea of children every evening after work. This was even after a day of phonecalls to his workplace at least 20 times during the day. Between the kids that were able to use the phone and the few calls mom would place, he would be bombarded. Yet we never knew until we became adults, that the boss asked time and time again to limit the incoming calls. Yet Dad, you just couldn't bring yourself to tell us that we couldn't call. Seems like you have kept this going. Now, 20 or so years later, you still make yourself available for your kids. 1000 miles away and I still feel like you are there for me. I don't ever feel like calling you will be a burden and I always feel you like talking to me.

There is no way I could summarize the memories in one post, there are far too many. But Dad, you gave me much more than I could have asked for. A childhood full of adventure, love, laughter, and humor. You deserve to have a fantastic birthday!! Love you Dad!! 

Jared

If someone asked me what I thought was the mist significant experience I had with dad, my memory takes me to what led to the most devastating botanical experience of his life. As part of my environmental science merit badge, I was reluctantly entrusted with a delicate fern dad rescued on a backpacking trip. Unintentionally, I swiftly destroyed it. I don't think I realized how devastated dad was, but he didn't breathe a word of frustration or resentment. I've always admired dad's patience and love for those around him. I'm grateful for his great example. Thanks dad

Miriam

I'll never forget when dad asked me "When does your heart rest?...between beats." Ha ha. That was awesome. I never forgot that. That's dad in a nutshell. Always livin up life to the fullest. We went on a backpacking trip the summer before I left for BYU and we counted the hours and dad fit in as much hiking as he could in those 72 hours. Boy, did we feel it too. But that wasn't any different from any other hiking trip with dad:) Always a death hike! 

Dad, there are too many memories to fit into a few paragraphs. All I can say is that I am who I am today because of all your dad-isms and your unfailing optimism. I remember the very day I asked you what that word meant. Optimism. You should have just said "me."

Love ya dad.

Naomi

Dad. Where do you even start with a guy like this? Ill start with this. I was talking to you on the phone the other night right after the sun had gone over the horizon. You said you were in the front yard leaning up against the ol' Volvo. The moon was out and told me to check it out. I stepped outside and looked to the west to see a sliver of the moon. It was "pretty cool lookin" as you had said. You said, "Isn't it amazing that we are looking at the same moon right now?" I was a thousand miles away but Dad and I were looking at the moon together. We spotted a few constellations together as well. The tears welled. I miss sitting in the back yard, on the beach, on a mountain top in the wee hours of the morning, or by a lake in the mountains and listening to Dad admire everything around him. His favorite primary song is " Whenever I hear the song of a bird or walk by a lilac tree." I love dads admiration of the earth and its gifts to us.

I love Dads hands. They are so big and strong. They surf. They plant daffodils. They pull his glasses out of his shirt pocket. They fed his kids for 25 years by getting grease and cuts from fixing cars. They held each of us. They blessed us every year before starting school. They have always been there to hug me. They hold mom. I can not wait to someday put my children in those wonderful, beautiful hands.

I love you Dad. Happy Birthday. You're 55 years young.