Am I spending enough time with you?

Dear JJ,

The other night I came home, having left early in the morning to do some surgery, and you said, "I missed you today, dad."

I see photos of you from a few years ago and you have gone from a baby to a toddler to a second grader and I wonder - am I spending enough time with you?

Today I called hospice to talk about your grandmother, my mom, and I realize, we just never get to spend enough time with people we love.

But I am thankful for the time I can spend with you - you are happy, smiling, love making people laugh, and a good boy.

I love you son.


-- Dad

Both your front teeth are back

And you are always smiling

Best of life

Dear JJ,

Three weeks into second grade and you have been a "super scholar" several times.  What does that mean? You have been quiet - and didn't disrupt the class. But the nice thing was, I drove you to your first day of class - and we got our selfie

You are a natural leader, JJ. When kids are around you organize them, and help them move along with whatever game you play. You are quite social.

So what does your dad think?  I couldn't be more proud of you, and love that you still want me to put you to bed, read you Harry Potter, and then a few hours later sneak into our bed.

I couldn't be a happier dad. And I hope if you grow up and have kids that you have that same joy.

Stop, enjoy your kids - love every minute of them - no matter how hard it is, because this is the best time of life I have ever had.

Love Your Dad

You still love Pasta

We went to Cabo after First Grade - and you love it there

Grandpa is still one of your favorites

And travel is still important to you

How Do You Tell A Boy About Evil?

Dear JJ,

We took a trip and stopped in Berlin, Germany. I had to wonder - how do I tell you about evil? You hear about it in fairy tales, but what and when do I tell you?

How do I tell you that the place you are dancing was once where the Nazis burned books and imposed censorship upon one of the most literate peoples of the planet?

How do I tell you that this place you are taking a photograph has had two tragedies with it?

One is this church - bombed out from World War 2 - left as a symbol of a war that reduced Berlin to rubble.

This memorial next to it is where a person killed innocent people who were shopping, using his car as a weapon to promote another ideology of hate - ISIS. 

How do I explain that this photo I am having you stand in front of is the only time that the tanks of the United States and the USSR were lined up against one another and we narrowly avoided a World War that would have been the end of the planet?

How do I tell you that the monument you are enjoying is called the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, when just recently a friend of yours said that because your daddy is Jewish he will be going to where "all the monsters are."

How do I tell you that we, against a powerful government that is evil are like this: alone, naked, and needing help?

How do I explain that this wreath represents where five soldiers were shot because they wanted to end a brutal dictatorship?

I will tell you, and you will learn, but most of all this photo, taken next to a panel by Checkpoint Charlie,  reminds me that you are our hope. That "a little child will lead them."

Love,

Dad