Dear Lily,
I’m sitting outside, in the warm humid air after a summer rain, staring at our backyard. A Corona to my left and a yellow finch to my right. He’s chattering away, excited that you and he will be spending the summer together.
You’ve just left for a two day adventure with your mom to a cabin near Minden, Ontario.
This adventure precedes another adventure involving the two of us, “Lily and Daddy: The Summer of Awe”
6 weeks of you and me hanging out in the summer, discovering. The thought of it leaves me somewhat staggered as it is truly a sentence of epic proportions. 6 weeks of you and me hanging out in the summer, discovering…it needed to be said twice.
I don’t know what will come of us on our many splendid adventures to come. But I assure you…you will be significantly awed by the things we will see and do together. Why, there are no less that a bajillion things you can find in our backyard alone. The sights, the sounds, the life…
Even now I’m surrounded by a finch, chatting to a cardinal, about the dove over by the giant monster tomato plant that shelters the small and brave pepper plant from the wind and the elements. We’ve got a lot to see young lady and I cannot wait to see it with you and be your guide.
I’m hoping to teach you that the world is an absolutely wonderful place, when you know where to look. Over the coming years I want to teach you that you should never stop looking. Never stop searching for a new flower, a new bug to befriend, or a new way to walk to the park.
I watch you discovering the world. I see the way you intricately pick up that dehydrated mystery pea…cautiously lick it, tap it on the floor, perhaps wonder for a moment the origin of the pea, then place it ever so gently on the top of your head… I see that and l am reminded that if we never stop looking for new ways of doing things we will never be bored.
You are asleep now, heading northbound on an adventure with mom.
I’m sure you two will learn a lot from each other up there. Always listen to her, she is a very wonderful person and you will learn a lot from her. Please do have a lot of fun and come home soon and safe.
We are in for a lot of adventure this summer young miss.
Hold on tight, we have worlds to see.
Love Dad
Oh my God, Matthew! That is easily one of the sweetest letters I’ve ever read and certainly the most moving. You are right- Lily has a whole new world to see and to see it through her eyes is the most precious thing a parent can experience. Enjoy your adventures together.