Parting Wish - A tribute to Dr. Donald M. Tuttle, Ph.D - "Doc"

Dr. Don Tuttle "Doc" was the man who showed me how to live well and to appreciate the wonders of the natural world when I was young.

From the 1940's through the 1980's he hauled groups of school-age kids, in the back of his pickup truck every Saturday, through moist alfalfa fields, along the banks of the Colorado River, and into the wilds of the beautiful and still-wild Sonoran Desert.

Doc passed away three years ago yesterday. His continuing impact on the lives of generations of young boys and girls is simply beyond measure. Thank you Doc.

Parting Wish

By: MrM

Feb 1st 2007

You walked in from the barren world,

Drew castles in the sand

Envisioned places far and strange,

Then placed them in my hands

In a fragile, clear, thin sphere of glass

Holding plants and magic things

To those mystic lands you added life

That had six legs and wings.

You gave, and gave, and never took

You always kept your word

You never left or changed you mind

You made others seem absurd

Without words, you said so much

In life you were so large

Yet modest, simple, kind, and true

You brought me safe this far.

When I was young you took the helm

And steered me from the rocks
As life's winds blew; you fashioned me

Winter clothes, thick hats, warm socks.

Through soft words and quick jabs,

Diatribes when I would hear

Wisdom shared guided my life

Through love, and truth, not fear

A boy I was when we first met

Confused I've been before

A man I am and ready now

To aim for heaven's door

So I accept your parting wish

Mentor, Teacher, Friend

I'm ready now to take the wheel

Held true until the end.

With Love,

MRM