A Thank You Post to my Dad for Father’s Day

A Thank You Post to my Dad for Father’s Day

My love for the outdoors came from an early age, thanks to family camping trips around the Great Lakes. My best childhood memories come from these trips, and they all involve my dad. Grilling steaks, pointing out the constellations, putting up with us annoying kids when he just wanted to take a nap on the beach. Love you, Dad, and thanks for the best childhood a girl who likes to play in the dirt could ask for!

Me and Dad, 1981
Me and Dad, 1981
Thanks for making camping trips = vacation.
Camping in our first pop-up trailer, 1979
Camping in our first pop-up trailer, 1979
Thanks for teaching me to play outside!
I never really took to bikes, but thanks for trying!
I never really took to bikes, but thanks for trying!
Thanks for teaching me to roll with it and have fun no matter what.
A windy camping trip on the beach, 1979
A windy camping trip on the beach, 1979
Having fun despite the cold, 1988
Having fun despite the cold, 1988
Thanks for teaching me to be so lady-like. Wait….
I wonder what I'm drinking here...
I…haven’t changed much.
Thanks for teaching me to stop and enjoy the moment.
My favorite picture of me and Dad on a camping trip on Lake Superior, 1979
My favorite picture of me and Dad on a camping trip on Lake Superior, 1979
Pentwater, Michigan.
Pentwater, Michigan, 1980
1985 - little sister in tow now!
1985 – little sister in tow now!
Thanks for swimming in the shallow end with me.
Lake Michigan, 1980
Lake Michigan, 1980
Thanks for teaching me the essential life skills of camp gilling and marshmallow roasting!
1981
1981
Is it done yet?
Is it done yet?
And that no one escapes doing their part with camp chores.
Camp dishes, 1982
Camp dishes, 1982
Thanks for teaching me to appreciate and be curious about nature…
Pentwater, MI 1982
Pentwater, MI 1982
1983, my first 'rocky' hike
1983, my first ‘rocky’ hike
…and that the best vacations aren’t those spent in luxury resorts.
Starved Rock (?) Illinois, 1988
Starved Rock (?) Illinois, 1988
Mammoth Cave, KY, 1988
Mammoth Cave, KY, 1988
Thanks for teaching me how to be a good big sister.
Maggie, Dad, and Me, 1983
Maggie, Dad, and Me, 1983
Teaching my sister how to be a good camper!
Teaching my sister how to be a good camper!
And thanks for teaching me that adventures are always better with friends.
Pentwater, 1981
Pentwater, 1981
And sorry if I exhausted you from time to time…
Dad napping in camp, Pentwater, 1982
Dad napping in camp, Pentwater, 1982

This Post Has 6 Comments

  1. Heidi Henry

    This is absolutely awesome. Sounds like you have a pretty rad dad =)

    1. calipidder

      He’s pretty great. 🙂

  2. greengirlkirse

    This. Is. Awesome! and you were such a cute potato! Thanks for sharing how it all began…..

  3. Jim Jarvis

    Precious, Rebecca! And, yeah, you were such a cute potato. And you still
    are a cute potato, even though a decade of virtual hiking with you really isn’t
    acquaintance enough for me to be calling you that. But, (Ha!) I’ll never be able
    to think of Calipidder again without adding “cute potato.” Kinda can’t stop it
    from echoing about my head. Blame greengirlkirse.
    We had similar dads. Yeah, precious, Rebecca.

  4. Mags

    I love this! Dad is super awesome for reals. So are you! XOXO, love you big sis!

    1. calipidder

      After posting this yesterday I ended up dreaming about sleeping in the old popup. I heard the cards shuffling and the cribbage game and the quiet radio that mom and dad played. So awesome! I still think that’s why I sleep better outdoors than at home – there is something soothing about it! See you in a couple of weeks!

Leave a Reply