“Go out and play!”
I guess that’s what my wife Jody and I must have repeated to our three sons when they were small. Or maybe we just let them be themselves, and they took to the outdoors without much encouragement.
Thomas
Thomas (aft) in a rapid on the Salt River
Richard
Richard in Dominica, 4th standing from left
He became an avid mountain biker and kayaker. He worked several summers as a rafting guide on the Arkansas in Colorado. As a geology grad student at the University of Arkansas, he volunteered for field work in remote places and ended up traveling around Nicaragua with high-precision GPS equipment and working at a research station on the eastern Caribbean island of Dominica.
In the summers of 2009 and 2010, as a doctoral student in geology at the University of Kansas, Richard traveled to the Himalayan Plateau of Tibet to begin his dissertation research. In the highlands of Tibet, the valley floors are as low as the top of Pikes Peak. Richard’s photos capture the beauty and desolation of this high and lonesome land.
Richard’s blog Rocks and Water provides a window into his world.
He is engaged to Lydia Staisch, the woman with the scarf by his right hand in the photo from Dominica taken a few days after they met. They live in Ann Arbor, where Lydia is pursuing a geology doctorate and Richard has a post-doctoral fellowship.
Herd of kaing
Lungar Shan North camp
Richard in his element
Cole
Cole with pupils on Ikina
Cole, born in 1980, attended college in Colorado Springs, where he enjoyed the Rockies.
Cole started rappelling when he was about 14 and was active in many sports in high school and college, including mountain biking, skiing, diving, trap and skeet and rugby. After college, he spent two years on the tiny Japanese island of Ikina, where he taught English.
While in Japan, he hiked and camped on Shikoku. He met Zoe Wilson in Japan and decided to live with her in London, where he attended law school.
While in law school, he started working at Itchy Feet, an outdoor clothing and gear store, and from there learned about another company that has several indoor climbing walls. Cole began teaching customers the basics of climbing. Soon Cole was climbing again, on the cliffs along the English Channel, in Wales and in the Italian Alps near Lake Garda.
Having finished law school, Cole is operations manager for High Sports Group, Ltd., managing its seven climbing walls in London. Zoe is manager of marketing and communications for AlphaSights.
Cole in the Italian Alps
Cole and his wife Zoe Wilson in Wales
Amazing adventures … in parenthood, too.
If I had my young adult life to do all over again, I’d do it more like your boys have done theirs; more travel, more adventure.
I’m still doing some formative parenting and am more convinced each day that I have no idea where my three are headed.
Thanks for putting this article together. Inspiring.
You and Jody must be very proud of these three guys. They appear to have learned, captured and exhibit the impeccable qualities and values of their parents. Now that you two have passports you need to get out more.
Thanks for this wonderful update, Harry. You can’t be sure if your “training” and encouragement will drive your kids in the direction you hope for. In my case–not so much! But each child is a fascinating and wondrous creation.
nice story, harry. i liked it.
Great story Harry. You and Jody did a great job. All the boys have experienced some great and beautiful places in this world. Wish I knew them better.
Lovely. You have seen the success of your efforts. Beautiful, engaged children.
Not so far from the tree, Harry. See that fine moustache being sported in that final photo. Chip off the ol’ block I reckon!
What a great story and how nice for a kid’s parent to share to openly about their kids. I remember when Cole was born. Who knew that he would have such a life of adventure and pave the way for his brothers. Doesn’t surprise me that they have a quest for adventure. I remember that trip to DC in an old red volkswagon that their dad made in ’68. And doesn’t surprise me that they are all so good lookin’. Just look at their MOM. Loved reading this story!
I am holding back the tears. . . this blog entry is stunningly poignant and beautiful. Thank you so much. Your sons did indeed fall NEAR the tree — after all, they turned out marvelously, and you and their mother raised them.
Mugwumpishly yours,
Corinne Corley
Stunning blog!
Seems not that long ago when these guys were lil tikes living at 5th & Lewis in the concrete desert as we all struggled to make it thru law school– you and Jody, David and I and Justin.
I’m thrilled to see that they are living my dreams.
Kathy Tibbits in Stilwell, Oklahoma
Hey Harry,
Good to see all of the Styron boys, even if only by pictures in a good article. I hope all continues well in your family.
Nice story of your kids.
What fine boys you have raised. How daring, adventurous, and questing they are. Thanks for the peek.
Nice tribute to your sons.