December 13th, 2012

Dear Jeremy,

As I am writing this letter to you your mother and I are in an airplane that is descending towards the Canadian city of Montreal in celebration of her 30^th birthday. As the plane is landing I am watching us navigate gracefully through strata of clouds like one might dip their head through the layer of soap bubbles floating atop a warm and relaxing bath…the sun in the distance is obstructed by the infinite horizon and thousands of miles in a neon pink and purple show beyond any electric show created by man. On take off and now in our initial decent the totality of man’s world, civilization, both American and Canadian become so pretty, so petty, and so limitlessly trivial in the comparison of the larger scheme that wealth, fame, and disagreement seem entirely without merit.

While I know that each of these has their place in the minutia of daily lives, looking down at the world from the height of an airplane puts things in a perspective that is a sharp and clear reminder that the stresses your mother and I face in our day-to-day battle to pay mortgage and supply food is important but also in deep need of context. We are fond of saying that “There’s (insert problem) and then there’s the sun.” Meaning that no matter what problems we face in our lives, the universe, or even more locally the Earth, will still go on regardless of the outcome. For some that may make life seem futile and lend itself to nihilism but for others, like us, it is inspiring to make a cascading change in the world.

Your mother and I are, or at least attempt to be, enactors of positive change in the world. I have pointed my life towards the goal of both education and edification, while your mother has pointed herself to the mental and emotional well being of others. Together we endeavor to create children who will make positive waves as well.

It is easy to get caught up in the politics, the nastiness, and the smaller gripes of humanity and civilization but looking at the world from thousands of feet in the air I thought it might be good to take a moment to share a few pointers that you’ll need as a man—and that when you’re 25 and I’m 50 that you can remind me of. Please share them with your sister—I know that she will be well versed in them as well.

• Make your choices for you. If you aren’t happy you won’t be able to make anyone else happy, nor will anyone be able to make you happy.
• Find something you love doing and try to do that for all your life. If that thing helps people somehow, all the better.
• Have principles and set them as the foundation of your life, never compromise their spirit but be open to their reinterpretation.
• You will catch more flies with honey than you will with vinegar…but when the hell do you want to catch flies?
• If you have to tell someone to go to hell, tell them in a way that they enjoy the trip.
• Don’t sweat the petty things (and by “things” I mean “people”).
• There will always be a tomorrow. Don’t get too beat up by today. Learn from yesterday, but don’t carry it around with you for the rest of your life.
• Hate is a heavy burden. Forgive, but don’t forget. Accept people for what they are and adjust your actions and interactions accordingly.
• There’s no such thing as a free lunch (unless your grandparents are buying).
• Politicians are going to politic you. Vote for what you think is right, and know what you think is right when you vote.
• Always have a screwdriver, a clean shirt, and jumper cables in the trunk of your car.
• You are never too old for cartoons, and comic books can entertain you for a lifetime.
• Read everything, know as much as you can.
• If you don’t laugh, you’ll cry.

I mean, I suppose there is a lot more about life, and that’s what this blog is all about. Sometimes I get caught up in the politics of the day and I forget to give you a clear picture of the things I want you to know—the ways I try to live my life beyond what I think is right and wrong…this is about what I think is good too. Life is good if you let it be good. From up in the sky, where everyone below is small enough for me to block them with my thumb it is evident that life is small, precious, and short. It is equally important to be well and right as it is to be good. The differences sometimes get lost in the wash, and seem minute but are as infinite as the setting neon horizon.

Love,

Your Father

PS: My god boy! You are amazing. I’ve been having conversations with you as if you were a real person (and you are!). Everyday some new sentence, phrase, and notion flies out of your mouth. It’s astounding. You are equal parts terror, friend, and protector to your sister. Right now you are spending these three nights we are away at home with my mother, and your mother’s parents—Bamma Cheryl, Bamma Ernie, and Poppy G. You are the light of the life of everyone you meet—you and your sister alike—and I watch you with awe and wonder as each day passes. Keep it up, and make some money for dear ol’ dad while yer at it.