Growing Up with Mekenzie

Growing Up with Mekenzie

I get the honor to write the first post in my Daughter's Blog and introducing you to one of the most remarkable people I know.  Yes, she is smart, beautiful and she'll always be mine.

Writing a chronological timeline would logically seem prudent as her father, reminiscing about her past and embarrassing her with photos and accomplishments would be an easy, fun task.  But as I'm writing this post, I realize that Mekenzie has become and will always be my friend as well as my kid and because she's more intelligent and creative, I find myself asking her advice when my father instinct will allow.

I will, however, dwell into her past for a brief moment for a background understanding of what I've had the pleasure of participating in for over twenty years with Mekenzie.  Like many of our children in the 21st Century, my daughter is a great student in school and life.  She's NEVER been one to take things halfway, her intellect won't allow for mediocrity.  She makes her own decisions and path and just can't accept the status quo. Her mom always said "Mekenzie came out of the womb talking," and I can attest that she did.  Mekenzie cannot help herself, she must communicate, and she loves to learn. The astonishing testament to her abilities is that she doesn't seem to have to try very hard to learn (excluding math).  Mekenzie grabs concepts and abstract ideas better than anyone I know, she's a natural.

Mekenzie and her Father Captain Richard with one of her Catches

Some things that many of her newer friends might not realize is that Mekenzie is an accomplished surfer, a lover of the outdoors and looks forward to fishing with me when she comes home.  She's caught and released 200-pound tarpon,  more redfish and sea trout than you and really loves to canoe and camp.  I must admit she probably got that outdoorsy part from me and partly from her mother as I'm a lifelong fishing guide in her hometown of Cocoa Beach.

Surfing Mainland Mexico Summer of 2017

Going thru life, I didn't expect much, I tell people often, "I still don't know what I want to do when I grow up."  Mekenzie has changed my career path, I honestly do want to be like my daughter Mekenzie.  She's challenged me as a father to do better, to expect more and watch my child as she's grown into a woman.  I know that you'll be rewarded when she makes an occasional post on her blog, I know I will.