[AtLast]

I have many warm memories of my father and just being with him...

The times we wandered on trails silently with the dogs at our heels to find the right part of a creek to fish in are precious memories. We would cast and simply rest with the mountains around us. We never had to exchange many words, you and I. We just understood each other.

You taught me the love of dogs and horses and of a woman. And there was my time apprenticing under your keen experience with bicycle racing. What a gift to have had you recognize my muscular body as an asset and not belittle me for not being like other girls. You were proud when I sent an ace serve against the kids from families that didn’t want our family to be members of their precious tennis club. You said, “just walk tall.”