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The Fountain of Yout' has not Run Dry

It is not just that we have changed addresses; 
that we moved 1800 miles to Tucson.
It is that it is almost like going back in time.

No, no!  Tucson is not a remnant of some distant past.
It is that I have been sent back in time.

Today I retrieved a letter from our mailbox
addressed to the "Parents of Conrad Royksund".  
"That," I thought, is a pretty good trick.  Both are dead.
"But who," I thought, "has a stronger right to open it?"

I have been invited by People to People 
to join other seventh graders on a trip to the British Isles.  
The letter says the trip will open my eyes:  I feel like a puppy.

I have a PIN number, and a personal web site
with almost-my-name on it:  "ConradRoyksund2", and some other stuff.
I am completely confident that I am ConradRoyksund1, and no other.
In fact, if there is a ConradRoyksund2 out there somewhere,
I do not want too many people to know about it.

If I can get my parents motivated to get on their feet
and attend a meeting in early October, 
they will hear some stories that will change my life.

I will have a pretty good story to tell, myself.

Comments

  1. Let us know if you succeed in getting our parents on their feet to attend this meeting. :-)

    ReplyDelete

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Friends-- My step-father of 35 years died this morning. His name was Conrad Royksund. He was 86 years old. He was born into poverty on a farm near Puyallup, WA. He was the first member of his family to attend college and earned a PhD from the University of Chicago. He paid his way through all of that by fishing in Alaska. He spent his professional career as a college professor. I met him when I was just 3 years old and don't actually have any memories of my life befor e he was in it. He was intimidatingly smart, funny as hell, and worked his ass off. He taught me to meet people with kindness and decency until I was certain they could not be trusted. He taught me to meet ideas with carving knives until I was certain they could. I will remember him as one of the bravest, most curious, and funniest people I have ever met. He left this world with a satisfied mind. We are so grateful. Dan Hubbard

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