SCHOOL DAZE

Hey Zooma! It is almost school time once again and I bet you are excited. I miss you a lot. Remember when I used to pick you up from school almost everyday when you were in K thru 3? We'd walk home yakking the whole way and maybe go see Kenny's horses. Then we might play some baseball after "snack".

I remember the day the playoffs started in 2004 and we went inside and when the Red Sox scored their first run against the Angels in the first game, I got excited and you gave me a big hug and asked me if the Red Sox were my "favorite of all time". And I said "No, you are" and you threw your arms around my neck and almost chocked me!

We then went outside and I pitched to you for an hour while we stopped occasionally to hear the strains of the game on the TV. It was a beautiful Fall day and you were smacking the ball, "like Manny, right Dad"? Two weeks later, the Red Sox won the World Series! This picture is a few days later after I got my new WS hat, which you wore as we did one more "Manny"!

Jeremy and Amanda want you to know that they miss you and they love you too. Jeremy has a new job in the State House in Boston now and his Townies baseball team won its League Championship again. He did really well too!

Plato is having an operation today to remove a big lump on his shoulder. He has been sad lately and I bet he wishes he could see you too.

I was making another of my end tables in the garage the other day and thought of how much you used to be interested in my wood work back on Spring Lane, always helping me sweep or handing me tools with your big safety glasses on.

I love you to pieces ZZ and yearn for the day when I can see you again. This isn't fair and I hope you realize it is not my choice to stay away.

I love you, ZZ
DAD

Those were the days

Happy Birthday Zooma

Hi sweetie,

Wow, you are now 9 years old! Yippeeee! Happy Birthday!!!

I would love to send you a card or gift or call you to sing happy birthday but your mom won't let me. It hurts so bad to be so close to you and not hold your hand or hug you. I wonder what the theme of your party was this year? I haven't seen you for a while so I don't know what you are might be favorites with.

I may not be able to call you or see you but I can do what I did every single day for 8 years and that is right here tell you "I LOVE YOU". I told you that every day and every night when we were together. Every phone call we talked. Every night I go to sleep thinking about you I whisper it and know that it finds its way to you as you sleep. I hope you haven't forgotten me because that would make me sad. I miss you.

So, no matter how long it takes before I see you again, remember that I will always love you and even as we are cruelly robbed of our time together and the bond we so closely shared, that love will never, ever change Z. Lily because you are always right here in my heart, warm and safe and alive. Bye for now.

Love strong and always,
Dad