A Unique Spark

Our Dude is a fun, funny, and unique kid. We love this because he teaches us about the world every day in new ways. He reminds us to be in the world with all of our senses, to pay attention to the details within the big picture, to expand our spectrum of compassionate communication, and to be with each other without distraction. Most likely he’ll remember a LOT more than his parents do and will make a game of testing their recall.

Born to Adventure

He camped for the first time at two months old and took his first road trip at seven months (hello, Grand Canyon!). In the years that followed, he’s hiked on Mom and Dad’s backs in Missouri, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, and Arizona and loves trails that take him to water. Eric loves to the feel the wind while riding in his Weehoo bike trailer, often stopping to look at teeny tiny flowers growing alongside trails. Anything with water is a happy time, though, and riding on kayaks and paddle boards has been a big part of his water adventures - he’s tackled Class 3 rapids with Mom on a SUP board on the McKenzie River in Oregon! He’s a seasoned sailing passenger, having passaged to the Keys and the Bahamas with Mom, Dad, and his pets.

It’s in the Details

Throughout the adventures, The Dude is always on the hunt for the best grilled cheese sandwich in the world. He’s discovered that hot cocoa is good in any season, any time of day. He believes getting dirty is sometimes just a necessary part of having fun and ice cream is reasonable for every situation. He loves to help Mom in the garden (he’s always ready to sample veggies) and help Dad with anything that involves tools. Sailing is best described as “getting windy” and he believes that crayons and a notebook are major accessories to any restaurant visit. But, most of all in his wisdom, we’ll just quote him directly: “You do you; I do me.”