Moving forward for a better tomorrow

My Dad is now gone, and even though it was not his addictions that killed him, it is was what kept him from living to his fullest potential He was a man who lived vicariously through his friends and family and always had an open-door policy to all. But he was not perfect, like everyone he had his demons. This is why I am here today, to honor the memory of him and not the shadows that haunted him.

He loved nature, my fondest memories are with my dad, deep in the forests of Cape Cod hiking, swimming in the freezing Atlantic ocean with my siblings. Taking us gliding in the snow, by dragging us through the nature trails with his old beat-up Subaru, or making us chop wood in the dead of winter then rewarding us with his delicious hot chocolate. These memories are deeply embedded in who I have become now.

My dad, loved building things with his hands, constantly working on odd projects, cars, motorcycles, all sorts of different appliances always littered our garages and yards with the intention that one day he would create something out of them, it was his thing, he was never afraid of hard work. He taught me the difference between a monkey wrench and a screwdriver, how to chop wood, and change the oil in my car. He even made a point of teaching me how to drive a manual car, because it was important for him that one day I would be able to appreciate classic American muscle-cars.

What made my dad special in my eyes, was that he believed very much in community and family, he believed in helping people and supporting each other, and this was evident by the way his door was always open to any family member or friend that were in need, he always tried helping the way he could and knew how to. I remember him telling me once while holding a can of beer in his hand, "what goes around, comes around Melissa, if everyone did it, the world would be a better place" I truly believe this is how he saw things, help people so they can help others, in some way, that this was his big dream, to be Uncle Bob to everyone.

I've always dreamt of being part of a community, an ambition that is rooted deep inside me and has a lot to do with the way my father taught me to live. Finally, after many years, I am blessed to be involved in an eco-community project, one my father would definitely have loved and been proud of. He would of loved the land, the people, and our vision. My only regret is that he will never be able to appreciate what is being created. I remember years ago I invited him to Cyprus, to get involved in projects like this, to be able to work with his hands, build and create., but his addictions had a stronghold on him.

Our project here in Cyprus, Chirokitia Eco-village is slowly forming into a fully sustainable retreat and community, our main goal is to help people reconnect with what is most important, nature, community, and self while being supported within an intentional, community and the many different methods of therapies and healing that will be offered. I want to honor my father's unaccomplished dreams in the way my life is developing now, I would love to build one of the eco-domes in the community in his name. The purpose of this dome will be to help those who also suffer from addictions of any type. It will be an open space for them to heal, cry, laugh, and love. to shed the burdens they carry and hopefully break free from their addictions, something my father never managed to accomplish. It will be a safe place in a beautiful natural terrain giving room for reflection and emotional release, allowing our therapist to guide them through their journey.

The Uncle Bob dome ( He would have loved that) will be set in a private area on our land, and allow its residents full access to the safe environment of the community, to experience peace. Anyone that wants to donate will be donating in the honor of the best parts of Bob. His music, his laugh, his crooked eyes, and his ability to love everyone regardless of their faults.

I ask for donations because I feel that he would have loved to know that even in his end, he was loved by many. I will make sure that your generosity is not forgotten that his spirit will now move through my community helping others who also are going through what he was.

Apart from that, the donations can also be helping the eco-project, sustainability, ecology