There is an irony in my family; I have known it for years. The Rices, the core five—my dad, mom, sister, brother, and me—are rarely in photos together. For the amount of family photos I have supplied for others, it is incredible to consider. My parents fail to appear in photos even more than most. They have a few wedding photos, the occasional picture here and there, and one studio portrait of us all somewhere from around 1982, but not much later. It is certainly not from a lack of me trying, but I have accepted it.
So for today, my dad’s 82nd birthday, where even though I was with him he was not camera-ready, I figured I’d share this photo I love.
My mom took it I believe months before I was born, in Lunenburg, Vermont, at my grandparents’ house. Dad is on his 1972 Triumph Bonneville, with Mom and Dad’s car right behind and the barn that inspired mine. He is the same age here as my daughter is now, with nothing but everything in front of him.
Happy Birthday, Dad.
tr/trp