"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.