Today is my dad's birthday. If he were alive, he would have been 62. To honor him today I will write a few memories I have of him.

I have a real good memory of a time when he took me to Vermont for 10 days and we learned to survive in the wilderness of the Vermont mountainside. I am not exactly sure how we got enrolled in this Wilderness Survival School, but I was sure happy to go. I must have been around 12 or 13. A highlight of the trip was when he actually made a fire using nothing but the make-shift twigs we found lying around. I also remember us lying outside under the stars one night and he explained in patient detail how the universe worked (or at least as well as he understood it: stars, planets, galaxies, etc).

Another memory: He was driving my brother and I to our soccer games one Saturday morning. We were almost to the field when I realized that I forgot to bring my "shin guards". I don't think I have ever seen a car U-Turn as fast as he did. Boy was he mad.

And: This is less of a specific memory and more like a series of memories, but I do remember how much he loved the Banana Split from Baskin Robbins. He used to get it just like the picture. There is a science to this (I like it the exact same way). Vanilla Ice Cream (covered in chocolate), Strawberry Ice Cream (covered in strawberry), and Chocolate Ice Cream (covered in marshmallow). Mmmhmm, I might just sneak out and have one for lunch!

Here's to you Dad. You are missed, but still are very present in my life!!