Aaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrgggggggghhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

That's the sound my brain makes every time I sit down to write something. The title keeps growing the longer I go without writing anything. I thought I had better do something before it takes over the page.

I don't really like backtracking. So much so that if I forget something at home and remember it after I have locked the door (and may only be at my car), I often won't go back for it. Forward. I always want to be moving forward. Literally and figuratively. This is true. I've forgotten my medication before, remembered before getting to the car and thought, "well, it's too late now". It's also the reason that I am horrible at keeping in touch with dear friends who have either moved or been moved away from. I love my friends. I love the memories. I always mean to keep in touch and yet I don't really. Sad, yes. Lame, also yes. Let's move on.

Yesterday was Father's Day. I love my father very much. As evidence of this fact, I will backtrack and revisit all (well, many) of the reasons that he's great. (Justin is also a great father but as he is not MY father, I shall leave it to Grace to one day start a blog and write how wonderful he is. And he is. Wonderful. Daddy-daughter date night, wrestling, reading together, Legend of Zelda marathons, the fun continues, but as I said, Grace will have to write about it. So stop asking.)

Also, apologies to my mother for not having written about her on Mother's Day. Again with the backtracking. Wow. This is totally turning into a major guilt thing. You see now, why I don't like to look back. Too much to feel guilty about.

Phew. Moving on. My Father. Actually, it's "Dad". I have always known that he is a camper, hiker, backpacker extraordinare. I knew this because of the family camping trips, the learning to tie-knots, the stories, the pictures. The thing I love about camping with my dad is that he knows how to be prepared. Great food. Comfortable tents. Ham radio. The hiking along local trails was a great part of this. And Dad always knows what animals signs to looks for or various and sundry information regarding the local flora.

Also the sun screen. Now, I know my mom was equally concerned about sunburn but it is my dad that I most closely associate with Bull Frog spf gazillion. To this day whenever I smell sunblock I think of camping trips to Lake Tahoe or sailing at Spring Lake. As a result of the sunscreen, I have not yet had any moles removed (or any moles to speak of) and have not yet been warned of skin cancer. Granted, I'm 31, not 71, but still.

Which brings me to another great thing about my dad: the hobbies. Sailing, astronomy, kayaking, bicycling. I got to participate in dad's first ever sailing expedition at Lake Ralphine in a lazer, sitting near the mast, holding on for dear life. It was brilliant. I also went on many a Spring Lake sailing excursion. Dad was able to rig a way for him to prepare the boat for sailing completely on his own but I was always so proud of myself when I could help. Great times.

Once, I went with dad to a sail-race in Tamales Bay. Afterwards, he let me know that the bay is one of the breeding grounds for great white sharks. Whether it is true or not, I never would have gone if he'd said it beforehand. The wind and the water were totally worth it (of course, I can say that from the safety of years and no shark-bite-scars). We didn't win, by the way, but I don't think we came in last either. I can't remember.

Some of the hobbies were passing. But getting to learn about new things with dad was a lot of fun. I've come to expect people around me to be as curious and know as many things as he does. It's amazing really, how you can mention any piece of history or landmark and dad can tell you a story about it. Or a story about someone else telling a story about it. It's awesome.

And The Stories. Red Feather. Pioneers. Falling Rock. Best. Times. Ever. Dad has done a remarkable job of continuing the oral story-telling tradition around campfires, fireplaces, picnic benches, anywhere children of all ages can gather. Dad can tell a story. And you'll believe it. And you'll ask further questions. And he'll have answers for you.

There are so many more things to say; Family Home Evenings, life lessons, cleaning lessons, grasshoppers.... I feel these are all best left to another day.

I love you, Dad. Happy Father's Day.

**Please forgive the errors in past and present tense. I couldn't decide which way to go "was" or "is". Too much "was" makes it sound like a eulogy and it's decades to soon for that. Too much "is" makes it sound like I'm still a kid. Just be forgiving is all I ask.