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To my son Tommy,

Nearly all your stuffed animal collection got a ride in your new Christmas present today. Here you are pictured with Dino before switching to next in line. The weather is truly uncanny for January. 

Sincerely with love from your dad,

Leo

Sleep In

To my son Tommy,

What kid sleeps in past 7:30 am on Christmas Day and will probably have to be roused from his dreams of sugar plum fairies? My son!

Sincerely with love from your dad,

Leopard 

Joy and Sorrow

To my son Tommy,

Science often struggles with seemingly contradictory items or states existing at the same time in the same space. In fact, you only have to look at two of the biggest ideas, quantum mechanics and relativity, to see the conundrum presented when they try to reconcile what they know of each to the other.

The heart, however, has no problem existing in two or more states at any one time, even if science or our own brains can't always reconcile this. 

Take the feelings felt during Christmas. We feel joy and that is expected. But amongst the delight and exhilaration of the holidays, we also feel sorrow for the loss of those that have gone before us. Happiness and grief existing in the same heart simultaneously. Each tear that rolled from my eyes was filled with joy and sorrow, hopes and fears, love and pain, and we don't have to overthink it or understand it at all. 

Merry Christmas to all, those with us here and present, and those with us in our hearts forevermore.

Repercussions

To my son Tommy,

I am not sure what Lego Ned Flanders did, but it must have been bad. Poor Ned has to realize there are consequences and repercussions for doing things with bones. It is like a conservative conundrum, the NRA vs the ultra conservative holier than thou Christian. 

The amount of money that I'd spend to stay one day with total uninhibited acces in that imagination of yours would be quite large indeed.

Sincerely with love from your dad,

Leo

Better With Age

To my son Tommy,

Some people scoff at stuff that is old. They say it is aged and outdated. But here you are, enthralled, watching my old Cloak and Dagger tape on an outdated VHS technology. Story trumps all and even a simple straight forward kids spy plot can captivate a six year old and a forty one year old.

Sincerely with love from your dad,

Leo

Monday Selfie

To my son Tommy,

I am not sure if you can tell by the picture, but you can tell it is a Monday when somehow you put on your button down shirt inside out. Not sure I even have the strength, desire, or will to change it. There will be days like this, my son, oh so many (too many) days like this.

Sincerely with love from your dad,

Leo

Tree Is Up

To my son Tommy,

The tree is up (much kudos to your mom as always) just in time for the twelve days of Christmas countdown. The train is around the base of the tree and runs without hitch. With the way we chose to set up, we get to decorate all the way around the tree rather than the limitations of a tree stuck in a corner. We still are working I the crèche and scenes and statues.

When moving, there is no act quite so significant that makes a new home feel like YOUR home than setting up a Christmas tree. Even if the rest of your new place is in a state of flux and semi disarray, set up your tree.

Sincerely with love from your dad,

Leo