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Sandra Yvonne's avatar

This was beautiful, Randy. It’s wonderful how your dad’s legacy is living on through you and your daughter. I bet he would be so proud of the way you try to honor and respect nature and pass that same reverence onto your daughter. Hope you had a wonderful Father's Day!

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randy's avatar

Thank you, Sandra! And yes I did :)

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Ishan Shanavas's avatar

Such a moving tribute to your father Randy. He must have been an amazing guy, and I would have loved to have met him. Thank you for this piece.

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randy's avatar

Thank you so much, Ishan! Yes, he was. And I think the two of you would have gotten along great!

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Michelle Elisabeth Varghese's avatar

This was so wonderful to read and a touching tribute! Everything about your dad was so interesting, but most interesting to me was how you studied bird books when you were younger.

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randy's avatar

Thank you, Michelle. Yeah, people always find that interesting and kind of funny. For Dad, being able to identify things in the world around you, was as important as anything.

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John Nicholas's avatar

Such a touching story. My dad was also born in 1956 and luckily still alive. I called him today but now I want to call him again tomorrow.

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randy's avatar

Thanks, John! I don't think we will ever regret calling/visiting too much.

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Karena's avatar

Randy. I am so sorry for the loss of someone so integral to the essence of you. Thank you for sharing this bounty of detail that explains so much of the person I interact with so often.

On this special day I see you honoring your relationship and passing your shared interests forward to your daughter. That photo of the two generations discovering nature together is so caring made more precious by the poignancy.

As a writer, your phrasing is also so valuable: I forgot more (birds) names than others will know; your fathers innocent joy at seeing a deer ( I can't access the original to pull quotes!

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randy's avatar

Thank you, Karena! I wish he was here to help pass on those interests to my daughter, but he got the ball rolling. And my daughter hears lots of stories about her Grandpa!

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James Bailey's avatar

Randy I could have picked about twenty examples - the specificity is incredible and beautiful. I loved this: “He was taking cold showers before they became the magic cure to the world’s productivity problems.” The life we live is, indeed, the lesson we teach. Your dad left a big personal and positive wake.

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randy's avatar

Thank you, James! Yes, there is nothing as effective as showing through example.

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Rick Lewis's avatar

This is so moving Randy. I think you hit on the key of parenting, which is to introduce our children to the fundamentals of reality, direct contact with the natural world, and the direct joy of human presence. Having fostered those connections for our kids we're forever woven into the fabric of the simplicity of being, and as they keep being, even when we are gone, we remain. And one day, like you, we feel even closer to our dad.

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randy's avatar

Thank you, Rick! You have stated this more beautifully than I ever could. 😄Well said!

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Rik's avatar

Just wonderful Randy. I really feel that I got to know your dad today (and you a little better too).

It somehow doesn't surprise me that you feel closer to him now, when appreciating nature, wildlife, and the outdoors. I'm not sure but, maybe the shared appreciation of something is part of what people leave behind for us. I'll dedicate my 'hip' cold morning shower to the both of you tomorrow :)

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randy's avatar

Thank you, Rik! Yes, I think one of the best things we can do for those we love, especially our children, is to find something to share with them. Something we enjoy doing together. I think having that “something” is the best way for someone to cope with a loss and allows for a constant connection long after we are gone.

And just between you and me - I rag on the “cold shower” crowd all the time because I get tired of seeing it in my Twitter feed, but I've been taking them since college. 😁

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