Cast of Characters - Dad

Cast of Characters:

If my life was a story, these people would have a starring role. I want my readers to know more about them, so over the following weeks, I’ll be including various interviews that I’ve recently conducted with the most important people in my life.

My Father, Jack.

He’s always been a major force in my life. I inherited a lot of his strengths, and weaknesses. He’s a regular in my cast of characters, but only recently…In the past few years we’ve grown closer. Maybe he was finally able to start looking at me as an adult, maybe I was finally able to see him as a human being. At any rate, I talk to him a lot and even though we don’t see eye to eye on everything, I listen to his opinions and they definitely color my choices. (Thanks for the job advice, Daddio!) So here is the interview:

Erin: Where are you from and why did you leave?

Jack: I'm from Oregon....and I never left, at least for long.

E: What would you say was the most formative moment in your life?

J: There was no specific moment: being the eldest son of a rancher likely created the way I look at life. I learned that leadership was my birthright and responsibility; no excuses allowed.

E: I know you've had two major careers in your life; Fisherman & Parole Officer. What prompted the switch?

J: Actually I count five: rancher, military, fisherman, diver, parole officer. They were all doors that appealed to me, which opened when I pushed on them. Common themes? Adventure, risk, compensation, autonomy....I may be valuing stability more with my current occupation.

E: How old were you when you first learned to play guitar, and what is the first song you can remember learning?

J: I was twelve when I first learned to play guitar, and the first song was "American Pie."

E: Since you've taken up most of the cooking, you seem to have developed your own flair in the kitchen. What is your favorite recipe and why?

J: It’s hard to say, probably fajitas. They are quick, tasty, healthy, and the family likes them. I like cooking things that come out of the garden. Favorite spice/herb: cilantro (fresh). So useful in different recipes....

E: You've grown all kinds of plants in your garden. What crop are you most proud of?

J: For some reason, I am fascinated by mass plantings of corn. The plants themselves are so impressive, and they make LOTS of product that is great fresh and lends itself to freezing so can be enjoyed through the winter.

As you can see, he's not just another pretty face. He's a Jack-of-all-trades. He even makes fajitas...I think he enjoyed this interview, and if you have any more questions, please ask. I definitely think he could be convinced to write a guest post. ;)

More to come~

~e