I have always been amazed at how complete strangers in the birding world open their hearts and homes to other birders without a second thought.? This is a story of Tom and Diane Weber and how they shared their home and knowledge to my kids and I during the Pullman-Moscow CBC.? The first year that the kids and I traveled to Pullman to help count in Tom's area was particularly cold.? Being new to the Pullman CBC, Tom took the time to walk with us and show us the hot spots in the area.? Then as a caring man could only know, he offered a stop at his house to warm up.? Diane graciously made the kids hot chocolate with marshmallows that were covered in candy cane chips.? We didn't know them at all besides through a few email exchanges, but they both went out of their way to make us feel at home.? Megan and Max remember those hot chocolates very much because they put a sparkle to an otherwise chilly day of walking around town looking for birds.? It is
difficult to keep kids going all day when birding is not their true passion.? However, when people like the Weber's go out of their way to make the day special for them then magical things happen.? The Pullman CBC became something that my kids and I looked forward to each year.? Unfortunately, we only made it to two of them in the past 3 years due to bad weather, but when we did get down there to help in Tom's area it was an exciting day.? I did not know that Tom was battling illness because of the way he approached the day and how he welcomed us.? It is truly sad to know that?a great man has passed on.? Our deepest sympathies go out to Diane and the family.? We will always remember the hot chocolate, watching Megan spot a Sharpie fly through the yards of your neighborhood, and being shown your Blue Jay.? And we will continue to support the Pullman-Moscow CBC as much as we can.
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Tim O'Brien
Cheney, WA