Gratitude

To my son Tommy,

You have always wanted your own playset for you own backyard.  Today you are one step closer to that simple dream and tomorrow, if all goes right you will have the whole shebang.  So you owe thanks to many of your family and friends.  Your mom's cousins Aunt Carrie and Uncle Rob are first and foremost in line for thanks as they so graciously handed down this huge playset called the Pathfinder 6006 Deluxe.  It has a slide and a climbing wall and monkey bars and swings and a fort and everything a four year old likes.  We had to disassemble it to get it over and got most of it today but need to make one more trip tomorrow.  You also owe thanks to your cousins Matt and Eric.  Matt helped us load it up and Eric generously entertained you.  You owe thanks to Bwama and Pop-pop for letting us borrow their truck and to your mom who bravely and successfully drove the truck all loaded up thanks to Uncle Rob securing the pieces so well.  You owe thanks to the guys who helped me unload including your Uncle Chris and Mr. Brian and Uncle Dave.  Now if daddy can get the whole thing back in shape when we get all the pieces here tomorrow, you will owe another big thank you.  No not to me, but to God, because it will truly be a small miracle!

The point is so many friends and family were willing to give of themselves to make this happen for you.  You should always acknowledge how blessed you are and be grateful to have such dear loved ones who share of themselves.  Some might think the gift is a playset and some might even think a playset isn't that big of a deal.  They'd be wrong.  To you and your imagination, you were given the keys to the kingdom to defend against invading hoards for years to come.  But the real gift is much larger than any wooden structure, yet so much easier to pass on from one person to another.  And the only payment needed for this amazing gift is sincere gratitude.

Sincerely with love from your dad,
Leo