As we all know well, special time with family sometimes comes less often than we would like. Yet, when it does happen, maybe that scarcity makes it even more meaningful. Such is the case for me as we returned home from an awesome trip to the West Coast to celebrate a significant milestone for Ryan & Melissa.
In August of 2021, Ryan and I met in DC for his 26th birthday. We saw a Nats game ⚾️🇺🇸 and then started our long journey westward. Stanford University in Palo Alto was our ultimate destination, where Ryan would seek to obtain his PhD. Melissa flew out to join him a couple of weeks later, and their life together in California began. This week, we joined them at their new home near Santa Cruz to set up headquarters for a few days of celebration. Ryan was set to defend his dissertation after years of extensive study of the many human dimensions of ocean governance.
In the fashion of continued good fortune, Emily, Stacey and I were joined by Mimi and Bapa for a few days of family fun and celebration. Melissa’s Mom Kathy was joined by her sister Lyndsay, along with Lindsay’s husband Weston and their beautiful 6-month old daughter Avery! Stacey was first among us to hold sweet Avery!
As tradition will have it, no trip with Bapa and Ryan is complete without at least one loop together. We were thrilled to have Weston join us for a day on The Links At Spanish Bay. I’ve said it before, but it is certainly worth repeating that there are no finer golf courses that I have played. I’m sensitive to the fact that my bias is influenced by the proximity to the sea, the mesmerizing beauty of the landscape, and the company that one keeps. Still, Spanish Bay is a damned special loop! ⛳️We ventured out on Bapa’s 77th birthday on a gorgeous day on the Monterey Peninsula,
You often hear that pictures don’t do a place justice, and I can confirm for you that that is absolutely true here. It is hard to concentrate, but so worth it. The gentle rumble of a pounding Pacific surf is a constant soundtrack during this pleasant walk along the shore. How lucky we are to enjoy days like these.
Everyone met up at Melissa and Ryan’s new home in Aptos for incredibly delicious bbq smoked to perfection at a local joint. While we settled in to gorge ourselves on chicken and ribs, there was plenty of time to gush over Avery again. It is easy to lose yourself in the joy of simply watching a 6-month old smile and coo!
There were multiple Moms and Daughters in the house, and it was wonderful to see them getting to spend time together again.
If one were timing who held a baby the most that evening, first prize would most assuredly go to Emily. She had Avery laughing out loud, both of them happy as happy can be. Look at the joy on Em’s face! 😍
Monday was Defense Day, with the principal event being Ryan publicly defending years of research and study. Weston characterized it well in saying it is more of a celebration of your labors rather than a defense of it. We all gathered at Stanford to listen to Ryan summarize his passions succinctly. To say that Stacey and I were proud parents would certainly be a monumental understatement. Parenthood is a lifetime of worry and hope. You worry about the bad and hope only for the good for your children. This day was nothing but good.
It would be impossible for me to adequately summarize the incredible work that makes up Ryan’s dissertation here. As Dad, I am obviously biased in my opinion that his devotion to the oceans and her inhabitants is truly awe inspiring. In an hour that felt like a minute, he convinced an entire room that we all have work to do in helping save our precious resources. We need more Ryans these days. His mentors and colleagues gushed with pride in their association with our newest PhD!
It was a special day in a special place with family!
Our day was capped off with a celebratory feast at The View in Santa Cruz. It was an amazing setting with a spectacular vista. But, of course, the real treat was the company we kept and the stories we shared together. Life is most importantly about the times of togetherness with the ones we love most.
Tuesday was a lazy day with no set agenda. We decided to meet at the UC-Santa Cruz Arboretum/Botanical Garden for a leisurely stroll through a fragrant and vibrant field of beauty. It was a spectacular collection of flora that pictures don’t begin to do justice. But I will share a few anyway!
While strolling, Melissa ribbed me about our traditional “Gentleman Pose” where we shake hands and pine for the shutter. She believes they are usually inclusive of a face that is too serious, and she is probably correct. So, of course, we took a few moments to demonstrate and confirm her suspicions.
UCSC is home to the Banana Slugs, so Stacey & Ryan took a ride!
Of course, any day together would be incomplete without an obligatory selfie!
Melissa and Ryan hosted us all in their beautiful Aptos home for our final evening together. We enjoyed delicious home cooking while swapping sea stories and lies about our journeys together. Ryan blessed us all with a preview of his graduation regalia that included some “fencing”. Avery then donned his cap and reminded us all that time sure flies. We all hope to attend her graduations together, and we realize it will happen far sooner than we think or like!
And so another family gathering came to a close as we all went our separate ways home.
Again, I can’t accurately convey how incredibly proud of Ryan I am. He continues to follow his own true north and pursue his passions. There is nothing more important in life than that. Keep charging Rhino!
