Happy Father's Day

Today is one of those days that brings me back to childhood.  Some memories painful, but MOST good.  I want to thank my dad for giving me so many of his wonderful qualities, and some not so wonderful.  Like, his varicose veins and heart stopping anxiety.  The yang is that he instilled an appreciation for all things.  A deer next to the wood line.  A cold glass of natural spring water.  A heavy foot, which by the way it seems I passed down to my daughter.  He taught me how to make people laugh, and most importantly how to love.

Dad was saddled down with 7 kids and a wife, whom I love, but she was QUITE the opposite.  Even though he was young when he became "caged", he did a bit of living prior.  One thing he talked about most was Palm Springs, California.  The retreats, the stars he encountered. How he hopped railroad cars all the way back to Maine, when he was just 16.  The stories about hobo's and what they taught him.  One particular man took him under his wing and showed him homemade signs that meant safe houses where they could obtain food.

In honor of Dad, RIP, I will be visiting Palm Springs!  I can't wait to send you all pictures and video footage to see if I can find anything there that brought him such joy for 50 years.  It brought him home night after night (sometimes driven by the local police) but none the less home.

Thank you Dad for giving me the confidence, comical insight, and love for America that propels me towards my goal to drive across our country alone.