My dad, Artie Rice, passed away late on August 17th, two days after his 81st birthday. A birthday we celebrated with him in his hospital room, where, for the first time in a long time, he had to listen to our versions of his stories instead of the other way around.

Whether he knew it or not, he was the greatest teacher I have ever had. I learned from him every day of my life—in ways he never even knew—right up until the end. I learned more about myself and him in the last seven days than I had in both of our lifetimes.

The lesson that has stuck with me the most is in this photo.

While looking for photos to share of Dad, I came across this one. I remember the day well. It was rare to see my dad sick and in bed, which is part of the reason this last week has been so hard on us. In fact, the first time I ever remember seeing my dad in bed sick was the day this photo was taken.

It was a weekend and I think he had the flu. He had also promised to take the training wheels off my big bike. They had been on far too long, but he hadn’t gotten around to it.

Instead of telling me maybe next weekend, he encouraged me to take a shot at doing it myself. He gave me permission to use his tools. So I did. And I never looked back. I can’t tell you what I was more excited about—the training wheels being off the bike or the fact that I got to use his tools on my own. My mom took this photo while my dad encouraged me from his bedroom window.

I spent the last week thinking of that lesson. Monday we bury my Dad.

https://www.haysfuneralhome.com/obituaries/arthur-rice-jr

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Happy Birthday to a great guy. Tonight we surprised Shawn, then celebrated. Heres to many more.

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Early last month I was shooting a wedding and I got a text from my brother with a picture of an engagement ring on the finger of my now sister in law Beth. My reply, said “if you need a photographer….” I was told I can’t shoot it, so I said I would perform it, and they agreed. I got ordained, I got the proper paperwork by the state of New Hampshire and yesterday on the shore of Winnipesaukee in Meredith NH we all froze. Beth and Shawn trusted me with the words, my daughter Anna stepped in as the photographer – though I did have mine under my jacket. I stopped right before my final words and snuck in my ‘Officiant Selfie’, then I pronounced them and we partied into the night. Congratulations Beth and Shawn I could not be happier for the both of you. thank you for taking my request seriously, I go to many weddings, this one was special for so many reason, a very deserving, happy brother, great new sister in law, new nephew and extended family, but I got to say… talking instead of shooting is fun, but I think now that it is crossed off the bucket list I will give it back to the pros. I guess I’ve learned a lot from those pros over the years, the Clergy, the JPs and Officiants like Susan Green,  Cynthia McNeil and Amanda Brown (who offered some advice thank you Amanda) – if you need one, check some of them out, I would be happy to take the photos.

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