Downey Durability

To my son Tommy,

Well, we made it to Friday and what was supposed to be a magical family vacation has become a test of our family fortitude, endurance, will, and durability.

I am on the mend and made it out to the Animal Kingdom park with you guys yesterday. I was hurting but soldiered through till the end of that park. I think there were plans to hit another park that night, but Mommy graciously didn't mention it and let me sack out as soon as we returned from our day trek.

Mommy just said her throat is hurting and she doesn't want to cough. So I guess my sick passed on to her. You have had a few extra sneezes but seem to have missed the brunt of it (knock on wood)

Sincerely with love from your dad,

Leo

Daddy Down

To my son Tommy,

I don't remember taking a bite of a poisoned Apple, nor do I remember having a curse out on me, but none the less I have taken ill. I felt it coming Tuesday and figured I could muscle through. But after dinner Tuesday, I was done for.

Wednesday was me just moving from my left side to my right side in one position in bed. You and your mom got out to see the electric parade in the magic kingdom.

Today I am feeling a little better and will try to man up for our adventures today. Nothing is worse than being sick on vacation. Here are a few pics we got Tuesday before I became no more good.

Sincerely with love from your dad,

Leo

Magic Kingdom

To my son Tommy,

Mommy: "Thanks for a great day boys. Tommy, what did you think of today?"

You (very matter-of-factly): "Oh... well... just the best day ever."

I laughed when you said it because on one of the rides (Stitch's Great Escape) you were crying and screaming, "I am so scared! I am afraid I am going to die!" I felt so horrible and helpless and thought I am due another one of those parent/of-the-year awards. Just put that future therapy bill on my tab!

Otherwise, two rides broke down while we were on them. And every time we got close to a character for a pic and autograph, they seemed to need a break or cast member change.

But here we are, with you thinking the day is your best day ever, and none of the things that went wrong matter. Those things aren't even a glimmer of thought. You thought of all your blessings. If you use that same attitude and thought only of the good no matter what goes wrong, you will live an amazingly happy life!

Sincerely with love from your dad,

Leo

P.S. Only a couple pics by me to share but a bunch by the photo pass people that we will download and share after the trip and a few more by your mom to grab later!

 

Annoying Dad

To my son Tommy,

I figure the next couple of days of post will quickly become annoying to those who read my letters to you. So be it. This is your first time in Disney and I have no qualms about being that annoying father that shows way too many pics of the family vacation.

You are not a morning person at 4:30 AM.

But then I reminded you where we were going.

Mommy-Tommy selfies at the airport.

Mommy and you chillin' at Disney Springs, you with your new Spider-Man sunglasses and a cherry Mickey shaped lolli and Mommy still getting used to her new wheels for the week.

We did 't eat at this restaurant but were awed by the bones (though the bone at the top of the hip reminded me that my mind easily goes in the gutter)

Your mom's bad hip hasn't stopped you from having those hand in hand strolls with your mom, though every time I tried snapping that pic you guys let go.

Just a couple pics today. Not enough though so thank goodness your mom got some type of photo package for the park.

We finish the day with you and Mommy prepping your trading pins for tomorrow.

Sweet dreams my son, filled with dreams of mice and ducks and princes and princesses and droids and most importantly that magic promise that the Disney future holds for you tomorrow!

Sincerely with love from your dad,

Leo

Story Is King

To my son Tommy,

I have often tried to get you to watch the shows and movies from my youth with varying degrees of success. Some you love and some you just haven't been interested in, or at least not yet. I chalked it up to the advances of animation and movie making in the family genre. I mean how can old drawn cartoons like Steamboat Willie compete with the advances of Pixar and such. Still I held hope that one day you would develop a taste for the classics; you would learn to appreciate an old black and white like Casablanca as much if not more as a newfangled movie like Avatar. And, as we sit here and watch Pinocchio and I see the uttermost amazement and see in your eyes, I realize that you have turned a page in your life where substance matters and story is king.

Sincerely with love from your dad,

Leo

Promise

To my son Tommy,

In every rainbow there is an unspoken promise, a promise that you will make it through the storm. We need that. I need that. I need that reminder. Of course it was sent to Randallstown following a pretty serious hail storm. Always a bit of give and take, good and bad, yin and yang, to every promise.

Sincerely with love from your dad,

Leo