From Heyduck Slides

I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for my parents. While that’s true from a merely biological perspective, it’s also true from many other angles also.

Both my parents instilled curiosity in me.  Some people reckon curiosity a bad thing – they say it “killed the cat.” In my experience curiosity has plenty of dangers, but not as many as not being curious.

My dad fed my curiosity by having a job that required we move regularly and live in interesting places. He also fed it by having his advanced math books on the shelf in our house. I first noticed his calculus books (he was a Navy engineer at the time) when I was in third grade. I could tell they were math books, but also that it was way beyond what I was learning in third grade. I decided I’d understand them someday, eventually leading me to take calculus myself (though I didn’t go as far in math as the engineers do).

My mom was a constant reader. While my dad was at work she’d take us to libraries and have stacks of books around the house. We never lacked for diverse reading material.

Together, my parents regularly took us to interesting places. Museums, zoos, aquaria, historic sites, battlefields, etc., in the US, Japan and Korea.

In addition to curiosity my parents also imparted certain character traits I retain to this day. Though I think he’s better at it than I am, my dad has always exemplified stubborn faithfulness. And my mom has embodied a skepticism, an unwillingness to bow to irrational assertions of authority. Both do so in the context of a foundational commitment to Christ.

Oh, they also did the normal parental stuff – housed me, clothed me, kept me fed, paid for most of my education. I’m thankful for all that. But the more personal stuff I mentioned above – that’s what I’m most thankful for.

Thanks Mom & Dad!