Last year, my father joined me at the Marine Mammal Center to help care for wild sea lions that were being rehabilitated. He dawned slicker and boots and went right outside with a huge smile on his face. Unlike most visitors who volunteer just for the day, Father was allowed in the pens to help because we were shorthanded. He took to the animals and scrubbed the pens all the while pulling me aside and asking me about each one. "Why was this one manurished, what attacked this one, and so on." Finally he was invited to work with the big guys. I hesitated as I knew their strength but he insisted that he could handle it. Although he wanted to go it alone I followed him in. Cletus, an adolescent male lunged at father. He blocked him with his board like a pro and laughed. Me, I was ready to get my father back with the little yearlings who simply crowded around him like a flock of sheep. At the end of the day he said he really enjoyed it. He spent many hours asking about patients at the center and inquiring about ones he had seen on television. Although his work at the center only lasted a day, I will never forget him throwing himself into the work to help the animals who could not help themselves. He saved many lives that day.

I was visiting my Uncle Steve, Aunt Helen and my brother Scott in Lompoc one summer.  Uncle Steve and Scott went rattlesnake hunting and they got one!  Uncle Steve did whatever it is you do with them and put the dead snake in a bowl on the counter in the kitchen, covered with foil.  I, being a little girl at the time, maybe 9 or 10, was in the kitchen cleaning something up when this skinless snake JUMPS OUT OF THE BOWL onto the floor.  Needless to say, I let out blood curdling screams.  Uncle Steve and Scott come running in the kitchen.  They just could not contain their laughter when they saw what happened.  They laughed so hard at me.  I was terrified!  Uncle Steve picked up this dead snake and explained nerves still work!  I will never, ever forget that.  Love you Uncle Steve and I will miss you.