Saturday, July 11, 2009

Phoebe: My Favorite Bird


This is a tribute to my favorite little bird and the sweetest daughter a Dad could ever have: Phoebe Linnea Thompson. Phoebe turns 13 today—yep, she's a teenager.





But I'm not worried. Phoebe is smart, deep, caring, sweet, really funny, and lovely. And every day she gets more so.

She can be tough as nails, hanging with her homey, Liam.

She's not afraid to take a wild ride.


Or to let us know when we've been out birding for WAY too long.


She's a truly kind big sister to Liam, who adores her. They miss each other when they're apart.


Since she was 18 months old, Phoebe has been traveling with us. She's a really good traveler.


She's a dreamer, like her old man.

She loves a good adventure, like a hike into a canyon to see petroglyphs, as the sun is setting over the Montana mountains.

But she also loves to hike at home on our farm. I love that she's waking up to the amazing things nature has to offer. And she's happy exploring them on her own. She gets that "comfortable in solitude thing" from her mom. And that's a rare gift.

I hope she follows her folks into music, too. She's starting down that path. My secret wish is for Phoebe to front her own rock band called Six Foot Redhead. She's only got about 7 more inches to grow.

A week before her 13th birthday, Phoebe got a new bike. She's scarcely been off it ever since.


I don't know where I'd be without my Phoebe. Sometimes I think my life really started the day she was born.

I love you, Phee!
-Da
at

12 comments:

  1. AMITJuly 11, 2009 at 12:29 PM

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  2. AnonymousJuly 11, 2009 at 12:45 PM

    Bill: What a wonderful post. Happy birthday to Phoebe. Su Snyder

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  3. HeatherJuly 11, 2009 at 2:29 PM

    What a lovely tribute. Happy Birthday Phoebe!

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  4. Julie ZickefooseJuly 11, 2009 at 2:37 PM

    She's a lucky girl to have a Da like you. This makes me weep.

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  5. cyberthrushJuly 11, 2009 at 4:09 PM

    Don't know who is luckier, you and J as parents, or Phoebe and Liam as your kids.

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  6. robin andreaJuly 11, 2009 at 10:02 PM

    Happy birthday to Phoebe! What a wonderful gift-- this tribute to her-- and her beautiful self to you and Julie. I hope she does front a band named Six Foot Redhead. That's a name I'll remember.

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  7. AnonymousJuly 11, 2009 at 10:48 PM

    Happy birthday Phoebe. May you always know happiness, peace, and good health throughout your long life.

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  8. Deb MarshJuly 12, 2009 at 4:37 PM

    Lovely post! I'm sure she'll make it to 6'--my daughter who looked just like her (minus the red hair) at 13 is now 6'2" and magnificent at 19. I loved a recent comment she made: "All those long birding trips made me learn how to daydream." Definitely a useful skill!

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  9. farmnwifeJuly 12, 2009 at 5:23 PM

    Hi. I just found your blog while searching for info about birds. My son in doing a 4H project on bird nests. We found a nest but can't match the bird species to it. Is there a site that will help with this? I am not having any luck. please reply to my email:
    farmnwife@yahoo.com
    thank you

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  10. CarolineJuly 13, 2009 at 12:28 PM

    Lovely!
    Phoebe shares a birthday with our daughter, beautiful teenaged July babies.
    Happy Birthday from another Redhead.

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  11. SaraJuly 13, 2009 at 1:20 PM

    Happy Birthday Phoebe ! Wishing you a year filled with fun, adventure, and discovery. And congrats on having some of the coolest parents on the planet.

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  12. elizabirdJuly 14, 2009 at 2:35 PM

    She is pretty great.
    A real jewel!
    Give her my love.

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