PERSPECTIVE FROM THE 19^TH HOLE: This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus use an image from my favorite sport, golf. Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all of my professional positions, including as a Congressional press secretary in Washington, D.C., an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and a private sector lobbyist. This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.

Two of the proudest moments of my life were to be on hand in the delivery room when our two children were born.

It is now about 42 years ago since my son, Eric, was born and he has become a great adult with a great family – wife, Holly, and granddaughter, Drew. They live about 10 houses away from us here in Salem, so we see them often, which is a treat.

About four years later, my daughter, Melissa – we call her Lissy – was born and she, too, has become a great adult, with a great husband, Tim, and two children, Mason and Kate. They live in Woodinville, Washington, so we don’t see them as often, but, when we do, we have a great time.

With this entire family, my wife has made it a priority “to make memories” – which, for us, has meant trips to La Quinta in California, Hawaii and Scotland, the homeland of my wife’s parents.

Let me emphasize the phrase “making memories.”

It has been a phrase my wife has used in planning all of our trips and it has proven to be more than true. Almost every day, I take time to reflect on our trips and treasure the fond memories of all of them.

We have great pictures of our trips and my daughter even has made our Scotland trip into a bound book!  This occurred when my daughter and her entire family headed to Scotland to make up for a trip she missed.  We had as great time there — teeing off on the first hole of the Old Course in St. Andrews, playing on the Castle Stuart Course (my daughter’s last name is Stuart) and being on hand at Muirfield to watch Phil Mickelson win the Open — the British Open.

With son, Eric, many of the memories over the years relate to our shared passion for golf.  When he first beat me, he was 12.  That bothered me, but every time since the first one, I have been incredibly proud of him.

I feel incredibly lucky to have such a positive relationship with our children. And I never mind if I am “relegated” to the last place in my family – after my wife, two children, their spouses, three grandchildren and our dog, Callaway. [Yes, he is a golfing dog!]

On this, the eve of Father’s Day, the fond memories come flooding back.

Last out of nine is a good place!