Cold

Dear Reade,

When our little girl went outside to get in the car this morning, all she could say was "Cold. Cold. Cold." And it occurred to me that last winter she always got bundled in a bucket car seat with a blanket and all the coziness we could muster. When we went out to "play" she was always snuggled right next to my body, wrapped up in a sling inside my coat.

Poor thing. I know that given a few weeks she'll decide that she would rather go ice skating than hide her head under her wing, but I'm feeling sympathy for her in these days of adjustment.

Love, Jenn

A lickin'

Dear Reade,

The smile on my face spread from ear to ear as I watched you play with our children while I made supper. "Give us a lickin' Daddy!" they trilled with delight, running away, shrieking. With no fear, total openness to playing run, chase, and a wet sloppy lick as the high point, they seek you out and delight in your presence.

I am so grateful that our children are not afraid of physical punishment in the regular everyday moments of their lives. "Lickings" and "being beaten" are a part of their physical play, not of punitive action. They love to be licked. They love to race and especially to have mama and daddy be beaten. They have no sense that there might be sadness in those words for other children. That other children, asking for "lickings" or tickling to stop might not find their request respected. Might not find themselves respected.

Thank you for being the kind of daddy who respects your children, who respects me, your wife.

I am so grateful for you.

Love, Jenn

School today

Dear Jenn,
Aargh! I've neglected my econometrics too much and now it's going to be a bear to catch up. I'm pretty sure I can but it won't be fun at all. Who am I kidding? Even keeping up with it assiduously it wouldn't really be fun.

Jenn, you were right to snort with derision (well not really derision) when I said I found it impossible to get any work done at home. That's really self evident. The real problem is that I don't want to spend any time at school unless I absolutely have to.
Love Reade
Sent from my BlackBerry® Tour wireless handheld

Strange morning

Dear Jenn,
I'm at school and should be studying but I couldn't seem to concentrate. I didn't know why at first. Maybe if I write a bit.

It's been a strange morning. Last night I read about a 22 month old being hit by a car in north Regina. It was kind of freaky because Gella's about the same age and she runs onto the road if she gets a chance. I quickly moved on to other news.

Then this morning you wake me to tell me that Noah was hit by a car and died this morning. I couldn't really take it in. I read about it last night and now it's someone I know. I remember Noah in the nursery at church. I remember his dedication. I wondered if we had any pictures of his dedication but I don't recall.

I suppose Noah's passing just attunes me to my own children's fragility. They're strong, healthy and clever but they're mortal. Somehow school pales in comparison to these things.

Love Reade
Sent from my BlackBerry® Tour wireless handheld