Dad's deck

Sunset, August, 2006 by Katie Tamony

This month's cover story on decks reminds me of my dad. Though he didn't build our deck himself, the simple redwood rectangle off the kitchen was his favorite "room" in the house. It seemed to float over the backyard, giving him a perfect place to view our acre of apple, pear, and plum trees.

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You could always find him out there on a warm August night, listening to a San Francisco Giants game on his transistor radio. Even on colder nights, he'd be there most of the time, standing by the firepit to keep warm.

One summer, he nailed a set of old speakers under the eaves so he could listen to his favorite music in stereo while watching the stars. We all thought the speakers looked terrible, but he didn't care--he was focused on the sounds of Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky in his own nightly outdoor concert.

We always held parties out on the deck. For birthdays, graduations, and everything else, this was the gathering spot that accommodated the largest crowd. If I needed a heart-to-heart with Dad, it was usually on the deck.

After my dad died and Mom eventually sold the place, it was the deck I missed most about that house. Even now, when I drive by it occasionally, I glance to see if I can spot anyone on the deck, enjoying the view. I hope they do. And when I think about my dream house, it definitely includes a deck. Preferably with outdoor speakers.