Happy Birthday Melodie - 2009

Wow…it wasn’t easy converting my thoughts about Alessandra to words. This task however may prove to be impossible. Alas, challenging as it may be, I must try. There is no way that I can write a tribute to my wife in a page or two, but I will try my best to convey through images some of our experiences.

I first met Melodie in the fall of 1973. She was a 14 year old, giggly, outgoing freshman in high school. I, on the other hand, was a sophisticated junior. We were introduced by Melodie’s sister Candy, whom we lost to an untimely death in April 2005. It was my opinion that she was about the cutest girl to ever step foot on that campus. I didn’t let on to that but simply kept that opinion stored away.

Melodie & her mother Charlotte - 1976

My best friend, Gary Tharp, and I would go to the campus early enough to sit down in the main portion of “The Quad”. Like most of our days we had no real purpose, other than to entertain ourselves at anyone else’s expense.

Melodie and her seminary carpool would arrive on campus shortly there after and walk past us. Occasionally she would stop to say hi, or wave as she passed, always with that awesome smile that has brought me so much joy over the years. One day after she gave me an encouraging look, I turned to my friend and said, “I’m gonna marry that girl someday.”

Our friendship continued for the next few years, most of that time spent somewhere between good acquaintances and friends. Let me just say that even though we had a few common interests, we ran in different circles.

After my High School graduation, I left town and went to Bakersfield to work and attend college. I returned to Ridgecrest (R/C) in the early fall of 1976 and spent much of my leisure time with my very good friend Dave Colpitts.

Melodie in front of my pickup - 1977
One evening Dave and I were walking through K-Mart when this same giggly, outgoing, now 17 year old senior literally jumped out from behind a clothing rack to stop me. She had seen me approaching and wanted to be sure to say “hi”. Well in the midst of our conversation she asked how long I had been back in R/C. When I replied, “since September”, she quickly retorted with these exact words. “You’ve been back for 4 months and you haven’t called me yet?” I stumbled out a befuddled reply, “er, I guess I’ll have to”. She confidently said, “Yes, it’s in the phonebook, on Coral”. She then turned on her toes and walked away.

Even with that obvious provocation, it took me 3 weeks to muster the courage to call her. Well I did and we had our first date on January 25, 1977 when we went to see the movie “Noah’s Ark” which was showing at the Ridge Theater.

We were inseparable for many weeks until I moved north to Bishop California where I had started a job as a firefighter with the California Dept. of Forestry. Unfortunately time and distance caused us to break it off after months of a “long distance” relationship. A work injury and 2 subsequent surgeries brought me back to R/C for recuperation later that year.

Melodie at my parents house - 1977 (no wonder I was twitterpated, sheeze)
I got in touch with her and she came by for a visit with her friend Kathy Kruse. It must have been extremely awkward for Kathy, because I felt there was this instant spark and rekindle between us and it seem like Kathy wasn’t even there as we visited.

Well, we’ve been together ever since. We were engaged in 1978 and married in 1979. Our union has brought me immense joy and satisfaction. Melodie has always been a blast to be with, always with a positive attitude. Never has there been a worry about what her mood would be like. She is fun, laughable, loveable, and beautiful beyond looks, caring, giving, and selfless.

Melodie in San Diego - 1978
We celebrated 30 years (28 beautiful years, not bad out of 30) just last April. I wonder how and why she invested so much in me. I’ll never understand her commitment to me but will always appreciate it. She is my rock, my buddy and pal, my partner in crime, my cycling mate, and the one who keeps me motivated. She has provided me with 3 daughters that bring such joy and blessings into my life.

Melodie & first fish - 1979 Bishop California

So, Melodie , Happy Birthday**. I love you….looking forward to many more of these great years with you.

(** Editorial note: This was posted one day late ‘cause yesterday was just crazy busy.)

"I'm a Walker"

For some reason I am feeling a bit nostalgic this morning. It’s not because I turned 50 a few years ago; it’s not because Melodie is about to turn 50; it’s not because we recently celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary; it’s not because my mom just became a great-grandma on the 28th of May (welcome Ryder Walden); I think it’s because my youngest, the baby of the family, our little boogerbutt is turning 18 on Wednesday.

Wow…I remember very vividly the day she was born. It was in Bishop, California and she was my third daughter. For some reason I was in much better shape mentally to be a positive part of this birth and it was a great experience for me. After all of Melodie’s hard work the nurses whisked her off to be gently washed and wrapped so that I could hold her. They handed her to me a few minutes later and I didn’t let her go for nearly 4 hours. I’m not even sure I looked up at Melodie much. I studied that face and without really trying I had it memorized. It’s not that I was worried about it, but I thought to myself if someone mistakenly swaps babies, I’ll know it right away. I could have picked her out of 100 little girls, with one eye open and both hands tied behind my back.

At the time I had Sundays and Mondays off. Melodie said to me, “I don’t think that we can afford to send her to Mama Gail’s on Monday too, you’ll need to watch her by yourself.” Now even before Melodie had said that I just always assumed that I would be super dad on Mondays.

Monday did become my favorite day. While she slept I tidied the house, when she was awake I held her. As she got older, I would hold her in my arms and we spent hours dancing together to country music. (No wonder she considers herself a country girl). When she was a toddler we baked bread and made homemade bagels together as we waited for her older sisters to get home from school. Once they were in the house, I was forgotten as she moved on to play with them. She never knew she was younger than the others, always thinking she should be doing what they did.

When she was about 4 she wanted to learn to ride a 2 wheeler, as trikes were for kids. We put her on a tiny little black bike and started her out on the grass. This way is she fell down she would at least land on soft grass rather than pavement or concrete. Within days she was ready to graduate to harder surface so she could increase speed and momentum.

I took her next door to the parking lot of the Kindergarten at Elm St. School. She managed to ride very well right away, but it was amazing because with all that room to park 100-150 cars, she couldn't help but ride in circles around me and kept running into my legs. My shins were bruised for days.

It wasn’t long before she headed to Kindergarten class. He teacher was Mrs. White, who drove a Black VW bug and also Mrs. Black, who drove a white car. Our house was about 60 yards from the front door of the kindergarten class so she was expected to walk home. If you didn’t ride a bus, the teachers would put a yarn necklace around your neck with a laminated card that read, “I’m a Walker. I still have that card, it’s hanging with my bike tools in the garage.

She has been a walker, and often a runner, ever since, never slowing down to accomplish something she wanted to do. Like her two older sisters, Charlotte and Cara, she has made being a dad very easy, and extremely rewarding. With all my girls they succeed despite my limited efforts. I have had people tell me how good my girls are and what nice ladies they have become and I simply tell them that I just stayed out of the way.

In 2005, Ali and I rode hundreds of miles together on our tandem bike while we circumvented Washington State as we raised awareness for Celiac Disease. What a champ she was and continues to be.

So Alessandra graduates and heads to college soon. We will have an empty nest before fall sets in. A part of me is looking forward to this time but most of me is really sad. I love my girls. I miss having them around as much as they used to be. On the other hand I am so proud of who they are all becoming and it’s exciting to watch them grow.

So, to Alessandra, Ali, Alioops, Alibaba, AliBob, Bob & Robert; I wish you the best years to come. Thanks for the chance to be your dad.

Remember, You ARE a Walker.