Appreciation of Dermot P Morris

Dermot P. Morris

It was August when I was born and I am truly grateful to Dermot P. Morris for his part in my incarnation this time.

I appreciate his clarity when he was 10 years old or so, that he would like to marry my mother. I appreciate her keen insight into the character and beauty (interior and exterior) of the woman with whom she would share her life.

I appreciate you allowing your own experience of learning and failure to prompt you to make changes in the educational system and to understand that we all have our own path and place in the world.

I am grateful that when we were born we were welcomed as citizens of the world. I appreciate that family was and is so important to him and that he loved Fridays because it meant he would have more time to spend with us.

I appreciate that my dad always had his eyes set on the future and a clear intention to create a historical record of my life and of those around me to feel rooted.

I appreciate your commitment to capturing on film every major and minor event despite the protests and your huge library of beautiful photos that will be there for future generations.

I appreciate her doing the work she loved and her trust in her own wisdom to break the rules when that’s what the situation really called for.

I appreciate your financial planning so that I could go to college again and again! I appreciate your clarity that your job was to help us fly and I appreciate your encouragement to pursue what was important to us.

I appreciate your guidance that led me to study abroad. I appreciate your long-term view of life and your awareness that we don’t have to walk the same route as the crowd to reach our destination.

My dad

I appreciate you cooking breakfast and making tomato sandwiches. I appreciate your healthy debate and insight into what is happening in the world that freed me up to make my own decisions.

I appreciate your compassion and generosity toward me and the multitude of callers and visitors who have sought your advice over the years. I appreciate you using your position in a way that helped others. I appreciate your respect for authority as I always listen to your own inner authority to guide you.

I appreciate your commitment to the community and empowering young people to be leaders in their own lives.

I appreciate his sense of humor and his ability to laugh at almost everything, including himself. I appreciate your enjoyment of life. I appreciate his love of gardening and walking and his awareness that connecting with nature helps us navigate through life.

I appreciate your ability to have an insightful discussion on any topic. I appreciate your insight into politics and your strong grounding in history. I appreciate your availability. I appreciate our many cats. I appreciate our special connection.

I appreciate your contribution to education and your desire and commitment to the vision that all children have access to education.

I thank you for holding space for me when I was fragile at different times in my life. I appreciate her telling me ‘It’s not over yet, Dee’ and she gave me room for hope when I was having my second miscarriage. It filled my heart with joy in the midst of loss.

I appreciate your understanding of the importance of boundaries in family life and how children need to get out of the nest. I appreciate your trust that children will find their way when given the opportunity. I appreciate your saying no when that was what was required and your clarity that each family needs its own sacred space.

I appreciate your joy of being a grandfather. I appreciate her taking over the kitchen when my twins were born and cooking us delicious meals as we got used to our new rhythm. I appreciate your powerful intention to be a part of your lives despite the physical distance. I appreciate the beautiful relationship you have with my daughters.

I appreciate your positivity and optimism and your courage to stand up for what you believe in. I am grateful that we have many more adventures ahead of us.

I am so thankful that Dermot P. Morris is my dad!