His Father's Son

I’ve been meaning to post this for quite a long time. In fact my heart has sung at least a dozen pages for this blog and my fingers have felt too tired or inadequate to the task of writing the score. As time passes I hear each song less clearly and my initial suspicion that something will be lost in translation becomes a rock solid belief. But… Adem and Reachel both pestered me this week about how I haven’t contributed to the blog in a long while. So here is one.
Early this spring I had the pleasure to visit with Adem and his family in Nome. They were gracious hosts and I felt the warmth of home while far away in a cold dark land. (Thank you). I was there in an official capacity to learn more about the community and so I met with a lot of people and wandered about momentarily insinuating myself into the lives of all manner of local folks. I also traversed the community with my brother Adem, worked by his side… and I saw Ray Boeckmann there in Nome. I saw him in the eager smiles of welcome extended to Adem where ever he went. I saw him in the generosity Adem showed to the people of his community. In how he watched over the vulnerable and guided young people. How he shouldered his work with enthusiasm and with a sense of play and adventure. And I saw him in the kind words and respect showed for Adem when I spoke with the townsfolk. He is indeed his Father’s Son. Adem has a great respect for his father and would like to live up to his standards, yet I don’t think he realizes how close he is to the mark. Nor does he appreciate that you don’t have to be Ray Boeckmann to fully honor who he was.