“Ready Reddy? Ready Roddy!”

Is what my dad and I used to say to each other.  My dad called me Red (“Reddy” just for me) and used to take us hiking 14teers and river rafting in the summers growing up.  He was a math and physics teacher and an excellent outdoorsman. 

As a wee one, I learned to count hiking Mt. Bierstadt.  I complained, because I wanted to watch cartoons but I am grateful for outdoor memories. Gray’s and Torrys Peak. Quandary Peak. Maroon Bells and other jaunts taught me more lessons than I could have possibly known. You taught me I that I have the strength to “just take one more step.” And there are rewards at the top.  Devine views.  You allowed me a lot of space and time to think while hiking and I learned to create narratives in my head. Remember when we were hiking the Olympic coast and we were really hungry and we kept going by talking about how amazing Oreo cookies are going to taste when we got back? And they did! We ended up only finding the knock off brand but boy howdy, those were the best cookies I ever had. Foreshadowing of Fortitude and Temperance. Qualities I admire and wish to climb. 

I still fall asleep thinking of our grey and yellow Avon boat on the water, the river, heading into rapids. The Colorado, Yampa and Green Rivers were my summer classrooms. I have vivid memories of that big dip “Schoolboy” in Dinosaur National Park. Hell’s half mile. I watched you survey the rapid before navigation.  You made sure I was safe.  I loved the calm waters and watching the cliff swallows.  I’m still into birds because of that. You made me feel special by painting “Double zero” on my lifejacket, someone said that sounded insulting, but you and I knew it was our private joke. It made me feel special. You said- Everyone else had just one number (he was number one!) but I was double zero, like a spy.  The littlest one with special powers. 

I treasured holding your hand when you passed away. You fell asleep while we all talked about climbing a mountain.  You died surrounded by love.  

You are one of my greatest teacher of life.  Happy Father’s day dad. My tradition is to walk Crown Hill Lake, a park you fought to preserve. And I’ll stop by your grave.  I’ve got some things to talk to you about.  See, I’m on a new adventure. Like you, I am a fighter.  You always looked so brave and strong but I know you must have been scared.  And yet I just keep taking one more step, like you taught.  Calm in the eddies, buckling up for the rapid.  I always did like to sit in the front of the boat!  Bring. It. On.  I need your strength now daddy!  I love you and miss you all the time.

Ready Reddy? Reddy Roddy! Happy Fathers Day Dad. ;)