My dad taught me a profound love of learning.

Early Friday morning, as I was driving to Utah for my desert retreat, my brother called to say that my father had just passed away. He had a stroke three years ago and has never been the same since.

As I reflected on the qualities Dad had given me during my growing-up years, I realized that chief among them was his interest in learning. Saturdays often involved a family hike at a local nature center, a tour of a historical building, or a trip to a science museum. At dinnertime, he'd often bring out a star chart or poster of a galaxy and give us a lesson in astronomy.  This emphasis on learning made me an eternally curious person, mesmerized by the beauty and wonder of the world.

I will miss my dad, but part of him still lives on in me.

Photo: Skeleton of a deceased Pinyon Pine; Canyonlands National Park, UT; November 29, 2013

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