Dad

His full name is Walter John Lampi.  He is known to his siblings as "Pete".  This nickname is said to have come from when his mother called him "Sweety" and someone heard 'Petey".  He is officially named after his father, who was born in Perho Finland but moved to the United States in his teen years. 

My Dad is driven...Somewhere around the age of 37 my dad decided he wanted to learn how to play the piano so, he took lessons.  When it was piano lesson night my dad and about 4 to 5 of us girls would pile into the van and drive to the teachers house.  During the years that Dad took lessons we practiced our lessons more often because Dad would hear if we hadn't.  Once he got to a certain level and could play a certain song he discontinued lessons, I don't think he's touched a piano since that day.

My Dad is an avid hunter....When my sister Lori and I were younger, our Dad participated in Hunter Safety class with us. It is quite common now when we get together as a family we will shoot skeet and target practice.  My dad is a hunter, I on the other hand am not; however I own a gun.

My Dad is intelligent...Years ago, when my Dad learned that he would be going to Finland and would be preaching there (he is a Pastor amongst other things) he taught himself how to read, speak, and understand the Finnish language.

My dad teaches... He taught me how to drive a stick shift by driving his vehicle out into the forest, switching seats with me and telling me to "drive home." :)  With an explanation of how to lift the clutch and press the gas to get going, we eventually made it home.  However I still wonder to this day if he didn't have a massive headache by the time we got home because for the next two weeks I "bunny hopped" with the vehicle to and from work.  I can drive the most difficult of difficult stick shifts now.

My dad is intuitive...I started college with a double major in Business Administration and Law.  I wasn't so interested in the Accounting part of business and wasn't so sure that I wanted to be a Lawyer after all.  On a side note, my Dad has a voice disorder and has gone through countless hours of voice therapy both with a therapist and on his own.  One day, my dad suggested to me to take a class in the Speech Therapy field because he saw that my personality was similar to that of his voice therapists.  Needless to say I heeded his advice, got my Master's Degree in Communication Disorders and still work within the field of Speech and Language Pathology even though voice disorders are not my specialty.  

My Dad is a life long learner.... Most recently my dad graduated a the age of 62 with a Master's of Divinity.  This is in addition to his other degrees in Engineering and Theology.  Not only is he learned at an academic level he often learns about himself.   Often the longest journey anyone can take is a trip within themselves.  I respect this greatly of my Dad.

I got my nose and dry sense of humor from my Dad.  He likes black liquorice pipes and introduced me to drinking Dr Pepper through a black liquorice straw.

Today is his birthday!  Happy Birthday DAD-  I love you!

hey a good feet rest

Hallie and Bjorn were sitting on stools in front of the table.  Bjorn proclaims, "Hey this a good feet rest".  Hallie agreed, so I looked under the table to see what was such a good "feet rest".  This is what I saw

poor Nadia... she is a foot rest now!

makes your belly fat

So, Hallie and Bjorn decided they wanted McDonald's (which Bjorn calls Mc-A-Donalds) for lunch. Being that I had to drive to my house anyhow I thought this could be an okay decision for today. They had both decided what they wanted before we left. While going through the drive-thru Bjorn says this: What are we doing here?! Mc-A-Donalds makes your belly fat!

GPS...

Conversation between Hallie, Bjorn, and myself:

Hallie: Auntie I know what's the most important things on the planet that you can't live without.
Me: What do you think they are?
Hallie: Sleep, food, water, air...
Bjorn chimes in: GPS...

you're a few days late

Today is July 26.  I have three brothers.  Adam is my youngest brother.  He turns 19 today.  For many years I thought his birthday was on July 28th.  This can happen when you have 13 siblings. 

Adam is a ranch hand in North Dakota. He most recently said to me I don't work.  "Every day I go to fun."  Adam is affectionate and loving.  He has been known to scoop me up in front of his friends and spin me around and then laugh when I ask to be put down.  He almost always has a big smile on his face.

This evening I pick up my phone and located the entry Adam Lampi, I pressed talk, and waited for him to answer the phone.  This was the phone call:

Deep raspy voice answers and says: Hello
Me:  Oh, (thinking he was playing a joke on me) Is this Adam?
Deep raspy voice: No.  Are you calling to wish me a Happy Birthday?
Me (Confused):  Well I would be calling to wish my brother a Happy Birthday.
Deep raspy voice:  Well I ain't no Adam, but it was my birthday on the 24th.
Me:  Well Happy Belated Birthday!
Deep raspy voice (laughing):  Thanks!  You're a few days late!

So...
To my youngest brother Adam:

I've learned you've changed your phone number.  I have the new one now.   Happy Birthday.  I love you!  -R

it's a small world

Everyone is interconnected...

Word of mouth is a great marketing tool.  In fact this is how I've gotten my past three clients.  Marketing via word of mouth brings along a certain responsibility to always be aware of what comes out of your own mouth because.... everyone is interconnected.

Webster defines "interconnectedness" in this way:  

1: mutually joined or related

2: having internal connections between the parts or elements 

In my life I've had a number of experiences that have demonstrated just how small the world is through interconnectedness.

The latest experience...  Client 3 was a word of mouth referral from Client 2 who was a word of mouth referral from Client 1.  During my second visit with Client 3, his mom said, "Rachael, I forgot to tell you, you know my sister! I was telling her about the Speech Therapist we hired for [son's name].  She asked me who it was and when I said it was you she said, 'Yea, I know her she was our son's speech therapist 2 years ago!'"   Client 3's mother's sister didn't know Client 2 or Client 1.  This conversation ended with the statement, Wow it really is a small world.

The most interesting experience...  I was visiting my friend Anna, who is Finnish, but was living in London, England, and now currently lives in the Pacific Northwest.  Along with us were a few other mutual friends.  We got tickets to go listen to a Vivaldi concert being played at St. Martin's in the Field.  During the intercession I overheard the couple talking in front of me.  Hearing their American English prompted me to inquire where they were from.... Plymouth MN.  The same town I live in.  The world is small.

The most amazing experience... While living in Finland back in 1996, I went with a fellow schoolmate to the Christmas Eve Mass in their state church.  While sitting in the pew bench I noticed a man.  I looked intently at him for the simple reason that he had the same nose as my father.  Being that my grandfather (dad's dad) was from Perho Finland, I was even more intrigued.  After the service, I approached the man only to find out in our discussion that he was my dad's first cousin!  In the end I spent Christmas day with their family.  The world is small.

While the world is small, I think the world is also flattening with technology... but that's for another story.

hope is not a plan, trust is

I stood looking at the bouldering cave with disbelief that I would ever be able to get the 'hang' of it.  Give me ropes and an auto belay and/or someone to belay for me and I am good to go. The thought was, Do I try again?  I hope to do it someday...

Hmm is it possible?

Well...

an acquaintance has said a couple of times to me that "hope is not a plan, trust is"; with these words popping into my head and the little internal voice saying "the landing is soft, trust yourself"...

I am happy to report that I "got the hang" of it.  Looking forward to returning to Vertical Endeavors to boulder again.