Rob's leaf on the Eden Medical Center Foundation Tree of Life.

The Invitation

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain! I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it or fade it, or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own, if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, to be realistic, to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself; if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul; if you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see beauty even when it's not pretty, every day, and if you can source your own life from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand on the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, “Yes!”

It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up, after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what needs to be done to feed the children.

It doesn't interest me who you know, or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you, from the inside, when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.

by
Oriah Mountain Dreamer

On August twenty eighth--some twenty years ago
there came to stay--a tiny tot--to live and love and grow

At first she seemed to cry a lot when things were not all right
And  then she found her smile one day and all the world was bright

I taught her how to roller skate and ride her bike alone
I showed her  love in nature--and that  which God has sown

To me she brought the light of day as only children can
With questions, laughter, love and joy throughout this twenty span

Ane now today I look at her--grown tall and set to seekl
A life of meaning for herself and those she will bespeak

My greatest hope and wish my dear--for you this special day
Is that you find the meaninng--of life to suit your way

And if you find the opposite, that you will quickly see
The need to seek life on her terms as others do each day

                             Love
                                  Dad

                                                                          8-28-72

Like many aspects of Rob's life, her creativity was directed to bring joy to the lives of others, and to nourish the artists' soul.  Robin was a talented sculptor, and wonderful weaver of dream catchers, and wands laden with good juju.

The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) offers a variety of opportunities for professionals to be internationally recognized for their achievements, honoring the individual and celebrating best practices that advance the profession; the Gold Quill Award calls attention to such achievement.

While few would ever know, through her talent as a writer for the Bank of America, Robin won two Gold Quill Awards; the BofA, in its history, having achieved only one Gold Quill prior to Robin joining the bank.

Having composed speeches for notables such as Bob Haas, the Chairman of Levi Strauss & Co, and the like...Rob loved words, and the art of using them to communicate effectively.