The Next Dr Seuss… Or the First Wiser Amuser

My friend Joe O’Leary, I believe is destined to become the next Dr. Seuss.

If stories of children and of parenting interest you, you’ll came away from reading his post “Roadtrip to Yesville” on my blog earlier today, with a huge smile on your face.

My friendship with Joe and his identical twin brother John (also one of my favourite people) is a classic case of destiny and small world. Our families are from the same hometown in Indiana where we knew many of the same people despite going to rival high schools. My mom worked with their aunt for years. We went to the same college at the same time. However, it would be ten years or so before we would first meet in Chicago, thru my roommate at the time, the most interesting man in the world, DaveRisner, who as fate would have it was close friends with them at Purdue University.

When we finally met? Within moments, we became fast friends. Over the years, that friendship has only grown. We have had great times in all over Indiana, in Chicago, and all over Colorado. Joe himself is an adventurer at heart. He has hiked the Appalachian Trail, was a certified whitewater rafting instructor in West Virginia, and so much more. He belongs in a Patagonia catalog. He led DaveRisner and I on our epic hike last December at Arches National Park in Utah. He is a phenomenal photographer, through his Wiser Amuser moniker, already publishing a book of some of his work, including a series of hearts he finds everywhere in nature and in life. He is one of the best writers I know, again through his Wiser Amuser moniker, published the children’s book Huggable Lou, just a small part of the world he has created for children.

And so it is with that, I am proud to introduce my friend Joe O’Leary who submitted this post for my blog. If you love kids, fascinated by the joys and difficulties of parenting, and road trips, this is one of the most enjoyable pieces I’ve ever read.

To close, when we were hiking Arches, I suddenly exclaimed, “Bro- you’re going to be the next Sr. Seuss!”

His response? Without missing a beat, taking a breath, or giving it an extra thought, he continued my prediction reflectively…

“…or the first Wiser Amuser.”

Go Adventure. Go Travel. Go Live.

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