I looked at the calendar this morning and said, "ah, it's Richard's birthday."
Sometimes it fell on Martin Luther King's birthday and today on the inauguration. I enjoyed the pictures; many great memories.

I posted a picture of one of the many post-it notes Dad left for us.  It reads "CAN'T NEVER DID ANYTHING".  Some people didn't know this about him, but Dad was very sentimental.  He used to leave us little notes here and there, often on the bathroom mirror so we would see it first thing in the morning.  I kept this one, "can't never did anything", as it was one of Dad's favorite sayings when we were kids.  I've probably had it for almost 30 years now.  It is a constant reminder to always do my best and believe in myself.  And that's what Dad would have wanted; he was so encouraging, supportive, and inspirational for us growing up.  He would always correct us if we said that 4-letter word, "can't".  He was a great teacher and always put forth his best effort to make sure there was a lesson behind every experience. 
And speaking of post-it notes, dad was a legendary creator of love-notes for our mom.  Our Dad loved mom so much and always told us how special and beautiful she is.  He would leave her little notes, or even sometimes hand-written poems.  There is still one in the cupboard from so long ago, and all it says is "I love the Pen".  (Dad gave her the nickname Pen Pigeon decades ago).  
It hit me one day when I was leaving mom & dad's cabin in PC how lucky I was to have such loving parents.  It was a Sunday and I was heading back to Portland..  I got in my truck and we waved goodbye (Dad doing his signature "wave" that we all know from the porch).  After they went back inside I drove by the house and looked inside.  I see my mom trying to check her casserole in the oven and Dad trying to distract and hug her.  She was batting at him with her oven mitts, and he just kept giving her a bear hug.  I could see them both laughing so hard.  
Their love was truly one of a kind, and we are so fortunate to have had such a wonderful, loving, and supportive Dad. We miss him so much.

Remembering Kinder

Though in later life (after college)
he took on another name "Dick"
rather than "Richard"

I still remember him by the name
he came to have at BV --
a play on his surname

and the innocence of his
baby face, which often
got him out of trouble.

Two days older (though
a year ahead in school)
I can remember being

blamed for "leading him
astray."  What a joke--
since he was always,

for better or worse,
a trickster, whether
playing trumpet

recycling old TV jokes--
"Maude Fricker" or
"Charlie Weaver."

This included even
our hunting days--
shotgun shells

loaded with flour
and games with
game wardens.

But the best joke
was on both of us
when Ruth and I

stopped to see him
in Oregon while
he was looking us up

in Buffalo, New York.
We did, eventually,
get together and

each told stories
(which may or
may not be true)

and those comic tall
tales will remain
my enduring tribute
to my oldest dearest friend.

-- Dave Lampe

WHAT A RIDE!
From the day you came into our home in Santa Cruz and asked me what I thought about organizing a new bank in Dallas, Oregon, to the trip here in the summer of 1966 to "case the joint" to decide that question, to filing the application and waiting and waiting for approval, to arriving here in the summer of 1967, finding the available building, a former laundromat, close to the lot we bought, and opening a new bank, BANK OF WILLAMETTE VALLEY, 3 months later. We built the new building in the next year, and for 25 years through good years and bad we ran the bank successfully and pleased the stock holders by selling at a very opportune time in 1992. Out customers, however, were not happy we sold; we tried to serve them well. An important chapter of our lives closed and we went in new directions. What a ride!

We recall the kindness of the Kindwall family to us and especially to our daughter, Julie, over many years--through the trials of teenage years and beyond. Dick was a special part of this family effort. Also, I recall many times he was helpful at the Bank to keep our struggling company in the black. Carol and I wish all the best to Judy, Joni, Cheryl, and Christina through the days ahead. Blessings to you all!

Back in 1993 or sometime around, I was an exchange student to Oregon. I was so lucky to be hosted by the Kindwalls. Since day one, Richard (Dad) was nice, warm, caring and loving, so was Judy (Mom) and of course the girls. I will never forget those years which were the begining of a life time friendship. After that, the family made it to Costa Rica to meet my family and country. I remember Dad liking the taste of Costarican Coca Cola and a whole bunch of adventures and spending Christmas together here, with my family. I'll never forget the "beans magical fruit" song he taught me, his smile and his huge and wonderful heart. Dad, definitely left a mark on my life.

I remember as a kid my parents had all of us kids come up and clean a part of some property that Mr. Kindwall had owned that was about kitty corner from where he lived on Orchard Knob RD. Also I remember a summer that I had moved and stacked some wood for him. I got to drive his old truck and that is when I learned I was pretty good at backing up. He was always a very nice man and a very good friend to my dad Bill Pettit. He will truly be missed.