Erin Fredrichs

viewfinder: Doves

I like to tease my dad by saying he's been suffering from a mid-life crisis since my younger sister was born, twenty years ago. In that time, he's changed careers several times, from psychologist to contractor, then salesman to cigar distribution. He moved to Los Angeles to try his hand at acting. Two years ago, he even bought a motorcycle on eBay.He dreams both big and small. Consequently, we spend hours talking about what he could do next. He likes the idea of building row boats and selling them on the front lawn. Being a handy man seems like a natural fit, he is prone to tinkering. One of his latest business plans: raising doves.I'm my daddy's daughter, so with that idea, I my imagination got the best of me. I fantasized of moving back to the Northwest and settling down on the island where my parents live and helping my dad tend to doves. I went so far as to meet a local man who raises doves.Six years ago, Dave Harris, of New Mexico Doves, read about raising doves in a magazine and thought he'd give it a try. Today, he releases his doves at weddings, funerals and celebrations of all kinds."When you work with doves, you have to be real calm," Harris told me before entering one of his two bird coops. The birds fluttered into the air and scurried to the corners of their space. Harris moved slowly toward one and scooped it into his hands. Once outside, he opened his hands and released the bird. It soared above in circles before returning to the roof of it's coop, where it sat cooing for a few minutes."Doves symbolize unity and peace," he said. "And they have taught me the art of being calm."When I told my dad about my dove experience, he laughed and reminded me it was just an idea. He has bills to pay, mouths to feed and one more child to send to college. Raising doves isn't in the cards for him.He'd be good at it though. His forays into different careers have always ended in success. He supports almost every idea I have for my own future. My dad is my best friend. He always opens his hands and encourages me to take flight.
Doves

I like to tease my dad by saying he's been suffering from a mid-life crisis since my younger sister was born, twenty years ago. In that time, he's changed careers several times, from psychologist to contractor, then salesman to cigar distribution. He moved to Los Angeles to try his hand at acting. Two years ago, he even bought a motorcycle on eBay.

He dreams both big and small. Consequently, we spend hours talking about what he could do next. He likes the idea of building row boats and selling them on the front lawn. Being a handy man seems like a natural fit, he is prone to tinkering. One of his latest business plans: raising doves.

I'm my daddy's daughter, so with that idea, I my imagination got the best of me. I fantasized of moving back to the Northwest and settling down on the island where my parents live and helping my dad tend to doves. I went so far as to meet a local man who raises doves.

Six years ago, Dave Harris, of New Mexico Doves, read about raising doves in a magazine and thought he'd give it a try. Today, he releases his doves at weddings, funerals and celebrations of all kinds.

"When you work with doves, you have to be real calm," Harris told me before entering one of his two bird coops. The birds fluttered into the air and scurried to the corners of their space. Harris moved slowly toward one and scooped it into his hands. Once outside, he opened his hands and released the bird. It soared above in circles before returning to the roof of it's coop, where it sat cooing for a few minutes.

"Doves symbolize unity and peace," he said. "And they have taught me the art of being calm."

When I told my dad about my dove experience, he laughed and reminded me it was just an idea. He has bills to pay, mouths to feed and one more child to send to college. Raising doves isn't in the cards for him.

He'd be good at it though. His forays into different careers have always ended in success. He supports almost every idea I have for my own future. My dad is my best friend. He always opens his hands and encourages me to take flight.