Richard (Dick) Melvin Smith ,  who, while lying in a stroke rehab facility, barely able to talk, was asked, "are you in pain?" With the slightest whisper, he answered, "no, but who's gunna quibble? ", left this earth on, January 23, 2023.

The dryness of his sense of humor left you with a sense of nostalgia for a much more simple and less stressful time when people chuckled sincerely at such responses, almost automatic but delivered with such sincerity regardless of how often repeated. That's how it was being around Dad. It's like when you watch a vaudeville routine where you can predict the punch line but you can't wait to hear it again because you already decided you are going to laugh.

He was one of those "not going to do anything until the doctors says so" guys. I was always on him about quitting smoking but it fell on deaf ears, literally and figuratively, since he was deaf in one ear. Maybe if I would have given him health advise in the good ear, he may have taken it to heart. Who knows? lol

When he was sent to the hospital for a lung problem many years ago and the doctor told him to quit smoking or else, that did it. He quit cold turkey. He regained his health and got into a habit of walking at least 8 miles a day for 20 years up to the time of his passing at 80 years old. Thank you doctor!

He honorably served in the Army and in Vietnam. Over a 20 year vet, he would proudly wear his Vet cap and would ask me to get him another one on E-bay whenever he wore one out. Little did he know that I had purchased  3 in advance. But I would tell him it's on it's way, usually, once every year. And the dignity and pride he would display when random strangers  remark," thank you for your service" , would make his day.

It didn't take much for him to be content and happy. In a way, he was like a wallflower. He would gain as much satisfaction out of observing the energy bursting around him, as well as participating in generating that energy.

He, and my brother, Vem, another wallflower of sorts, would have many walks and travels together. These walks brought them closer and gain a deeper understanding of each other's uniqueness. Imagine a couple of wallflowers observing each other. My head just exploded.

Dad and I were just starting to get close. Our conversations would not be long at times, but when walked together on the beaches of the Oregon coast, that is when our talks would become more meaningful and full of laughs. I owe Dad a lot because if not for him, I would not have survived pass the age of 12 years old. I was born with two holes in my heart. after my Mom and Dad married, we were able to come to the U.S. to get my heart repaired. I am truly devastated when he passed because we were just getting to know the mellow and kindness side of who he truly was.

His generosity to all of our family members was more than he could give. It didn't matter if they thanked him. He just liked giving. Mom and Dad were opposite in many ways, but they made their marriage work. Traveling all over the world made it even better.

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