Shawn and Sue

Sue’s elder son turns 56 today. He’s a polymath: good at just about everything. He’s a physical trainer, a bee keeper, a biologist, an ecologist, and a philosopher (currently listening to a book by Epictetus in English translation). He never met an animal he didn’t love. As a child, he raised one beaver and a number of birds, dogs, and cats. As an adult he was on the Oregon team that saved the California Condor from extinction. He’s an avid gardener who knows the common names and Latin names of just about every plant that grows in the Northwest. He does house repairs and carpentry, is learning Japanese, can fix cars and motorcycles, and plays a mean bass guitar. All that and he’s a wise and loving father to his two adult children. 

Sue and I took him out for breakfast on his birthday, and I asked him if there’s anything he isn’t good at. He’s a very humble guy and laughed at my question and then told me, “Practical mathematics, I’m afraid. I’m just not very interested in things that have right or wrong answers. I prefer the questions. Now theoretical math: I can get into that.” 

Sue asked him what he knows, at the age of 56. Again he laughed, thought about it, and explained, “I love learning more than anything, and what I’m still trying to figure out out is how to let go of attachment to results or outcomes from that learning.” 

I'm moved by the comments on the portrait of Bella after her first week of high school, especially the stories you told and the wisdom offered by others who've either been through hell in high school or have seen their children struggle. I haven't had time to respond to all the comments, but I have read them and will go back, will update when I can.