Dad carved Goofus from wood, especially for me.

Today’s story is from Naomi Reed Rhode.

Goofus, he was. A penguin, indeed. The most beautiful bird I’d ever seen. The curve of his wings. The grooves in his beak. Dad’s gift to me.

Wilderness Boy Scout Camp,
Dad Virgil and Naomi

Summer camp, just one week away. Not just any camp. A co-ed retreat, a camp with the boys. I was giddy. Nervous. “Co-ed,” I said, as it spread to my friends.

“Co-ed.” A signal to all; Naomi is becoming a very big girl. I was just 12, going on 20. Prepared for adventure. (Ready for love?)

Dad, a Methodist pastor, had shown the way. His deeds were strong. I heeded his words. My father knew this was real big. He trusted. But Dad wasn’t dumb. Things can happen at camp, even one sponsored by church.   

“Naomi,” he said, pressing Goofus into the flesh of my hand, “This is a special gift. I carved it for you. It’s to take with you to camp. Everywhere, in fact.”

A penguin, I thought, lovely, for sure, but… “Thank you, daddy. Why?”

My father replied: “Naomi, you’re an amazing young lady. Smart as a whip. A future so big. This little guy? So you’ll never forget.”

That’s all he said. I knew. Do you? Goofus and I packed up for camp.

It was a marvelous time. I came home eager to tell. “And Goofus?” asked dad. “Well, I gave him away!” I excitedly said.

“I met a boy. I fell in love! Goofus was his gift.”

What a shock that must have been for Dad. But he was unshaken. Dad’s exact words? (preserved in my little red diary):

“He must be a phenomenal man, Naomi. Because you always make good choices. And you always make your choices good, too.”

What happened next? You’ll never guess. Seven years passed. I married that man. It’s 56 years later. We’re still married today.

Why? Jim and I work each day to make that choice good. The message from Dad, and Goofus my friend?

Make choices, then make them good.

Goofus is gone. His message lives on.

Jim and Naomi today