Happy Father's Day Dad!

Fathers, just like anybody else, come in all shapes and sizes and temperments. Some relaxed and carefree in the sense of a happy-go-lucky style, others more intense, always on the go. I feel so very lucky to have a dad who is a combination of the two, albeit a bit more toward the latter. He's always got a project going - whether it be building a winter home in Sedona, creating candleholders out of metal, or making sand out of gravel - yet he does find time to relax. In the midst of all chaos, you'll find him wrapped up in a book or newspaper - unware of anything else around him. Or you'll find him in front of the computer, playing one of numerous kinds of Solitaire.

His latest relaxation habit, but also a project of sorts, is capuring the wildlife that surrounds Mom and Dad's Sedona home. I think it started out as pure relaxation - watching the coyotes gather courage and come closer and closer to the house, seeing the birds flit from the bath to the trees and back again, and again and again. Then he started taking pictures - first with a disposable camera and then a 35mm and finally a fancy-dancy digital one. Now, from an observer's vantage point, the photography has become more of a project. When we went to a wildlife refuge in March, he was intent on getting the animals in their natural habitat and quickly became frustrated with the people and the chainlink fences and the distance some of the animals were from him. He showed some patience though and soon found a way to get some wonderful pictures of lions tearing apart meat, blood dripping from his enormous teeth. (Personally, I was pretty happy about the chainlink fences!) Sophie tagged along with him, patiently waiting for him to get just the right shot before they moved on down the line of animals. Afterward, she, along with the rest of us, were enthralled with the pictures - the detail in all the close-ups making our trip so much more memorable.

Thanks Dad - for all your intensity, your patience, and your drive to keep learning. You've taught us all so much. I love you!