Letters to Adena

2011-11-02T13:50:00.000-07:00

Hey, Adena, Papa just wanted to say Hi and let you know how much I and grandma enjoyed your visit. The house is all cleaned up and the smell is nearly gone. Hope you will visit again soon.

Papa loves you

2011-04-23T14:06:00.001-07:00

Dear Adena,
Thanks for coming and bringing mom and dad. Wasn't it fun to have Joe and aunt Carri here? You and Joe sure get wild when you two get together.

Greema and I will see you again soon. Enjoy all the toys you have.

Papa loves ou

2011-04-14T07:37:00.000-07:00

Dear Adena,
What a fun birthday party and, wow, did you ever get the neat presents. It is hard to imagine that you are already 2 years old and growing so fast.

Greemee and I will see you soon.

Papa loves you.

Youforgot something

2010-12-07T06:51:00.000-08:00

Hey, Adena,

It was nice to have you and Joe here in Milwaukee. Grandma and I are still picking up toys.

Did you know that you forgot something, that you left something here when you went home? No? Well, we found it, but I don't know if we can save it for you. Besides, I don't think you'd want it back. Actually, we wonder if you left it on pupose.

What was it? Well, it was so tiny you probably never realized what you did with it. After all, viruses can float around in the air.

Papa loves you.

2010-10-07T10:22:00.000-07:00

Dear Adena,
I don't know which is more fun, seeing how fast ou are growing (hair) or hearing you talk on the telephone. I am looking forward to seeing you and those guys you hang out with this weekend. Let me know if there is something you want to do when you get here.

Papa loves you.

2010-08-06T06:09:00.001-07:00

Dear Squeaky,
It was, as usual, a joy to have you here for the past several days. You continue to be the mellow one who laughs easily, and it is great to watch you grow. I am especially impressed by your ability to speak fluid Klingon and wish I could understand it.

We finally have put all your dirty diaper bags into the garbage bags in the garage. Now we have to find out why the tires on Grandma's and Papa's cars are dissolving.

See you next week.

Papa loves you.

2010-06-25T03:36:00.001-07:00

Dear Sqeuaky,
I cannot tell you how wonderful it was when last Sunday, on father's day, you suddenly appeared in my room. In you came with that wonderful little smile on your face and, instantly, it was a wonderful day for me. Thanks for coming up to Milwaukee for the day. Perhaps next time you could leave your mom at home.

Papa loves you.

2010-05-15T04:30:00.000-07:00

Dear Squeaky,
You are upstairs and asleep in with your mom. I am waiting for you to wake up and to see what amazing new things you do today. You are growing so fast and dong new things every day. It is truly amazing. I hope I can keep coming up with new noises to amuse you but, sooner or later, we will have to move on and discuss Shakespeare. Meanwhile, enjoy your childhood.

Papa loves you.

2010-05-06T05:46:00.000-07:00

Dear Squeaky,
Hard to believe, but you are one year old, walking and eating pickles.

Grandma and I enjoyed your recent visit. It is wonderful to watch you grow, take your first steps and say your first word (what ever it was). Just keep that nice smile and calm demeanor and you will one day be a fantastic young woman.

Papa loves you.

2010-04-20T06:13:00.000-07:00

Dear Adena,
It was great having you here for a few days. The way you are walking and talking (we just have to figure out which language) is great. Your easy manner and smiles light up the entire house. I know grandma was just as happy to see you.

Even Bubbie enjoyed your time here. Just remember:

Papa loves you.

2010-04-12T07:06:00.000-07:00

Dear Squeaky,
What fun to be at your first birthday party and to watch you mess up the cake and open presents. I was really excited to see you walk.

You are a lucky girl. There was lots of family there, all whom love you and will help you grow in life. Papa wishes you good health and many many years of rich life.

Papa loves you.

2010-03-25T04:32:00.001-07:00

Dear Joseph and Adena,
Papa grew up in a time that was very different than now (when ever you read this). I saw our country, USA, grow and flourish and become great. If they are still teaching history (and doing so truthfully), you will learn that this country started as an experiment in freedom and capitalism. The founding fathers, at the risk of their lives, wrote a constitution and broke free of the King of England. And it worked for us. We developed the best of everything, and our people lived good lives. We became the envy of every nation in the world. Those who hated us were either jealous or under governments that I describe below.

We are a democracy, or at least a republic, that elects officials who we can kick out of office if we do not like what they do. There have always been those, however, who do not agree with this way of governing. There are those who feel that everyone should have the same things, no matter how little they might contribute to the country. This means that if you lived in such a country and worked hard to earn a living, the government would take some of what you made and give it to someone who might be lazy and had not earned anything. It is called taxes, a way of redistributing wealth.

These same people feel that the elite (they decide who is elite) knows what is best for us all. They believe that they should run things. In doing so, they collect almost all the earnings and wastefully spend it on programs for the people. We call the people who think this way socialists and communists. Two things you will want to know about them: 1, They feel they know what is best for us and will use any means to get their way, and 2, they will not be subjected to the same programs as the common people. Even now, as I write this, congress does not have the same medical program as the rest of us.

As I write this, a man who refuses to show us his birth certificate (we are not sure where he was born and if he is even allowed to run for the office), has a radical background, has never run anything or produced anything, who as a senator usually voted "present" to avoid taking a stand and who now has surrounded himself with Czars (a communist dictator) who were all had radical and/or suspicious legal backgrounds. More over, as it turns out, he has lied about everything he promised, especially to have open government (as his minions have done everything behind closed doors. They even refused to let the minority part participate. Unheard of). They have already passed budgets that will bankrupt the country. Now, this week, they have passed a bill which none of them could have read (it is thousands of pages long) and are set up to take over the health care system, one of the best that ever existed.

I suspect that when you read this health care will already be rationed. I suspect that you will have lost many of the freedoms we enjoy today, but you will not know it because you have grown up with it. What I want to say is that I am sorry, so very sorry because, you see, this way of governing has never, ever succeeded. It has lead to poverty of the masses, misery, loss of all freedoms and dictatorships.

I write this with great sadness. Today, I have looked into the abyss.

Please remember,

Papa loves you both.

2009-12-03T08:05:00.000-08:00

Dear Squeaky,

It was wonderful to have you and the rest of the family here for thanksgiving. You are such a delight to be around. I especially like your mellow mood...when you aren't hungry, in pain or need a diaper change.

You are growing and developing so fast that grandma and I are amazed at how much you change between visits. We are also so glad that you take after your dad and not your mom. We will see you soon when we come down to visit.

Papa loves you.

2009-11-03T07:39:00.001-08:00

Dear Squeaky,
What a joy to have you visit this past weekend. You were truly a lady. Except for when you were hungry, I don't think you put up any stink. Well, let me rephrase that. Except for when you were hungry and you put out a stink, you were smiling, fun and amazingly able to occupy yourself.

Perhaps when you come back for thanksgiving you can give meditation lessons to your big cousin, Joseph.

Papa loves you.

2009-10-02T07:52:00.000-07:00

Dear Squeaky,

As you get older it will be harder and harder for me to remember how you look today. Actually, it is harder and harder for Papa to remember how he looked last year. That's why the family takes pictures, so we will remember. It may not mean much to you now, but one day you will enjoy reminiscing over old photos. You will see pictures from times you will not remember, like now, and also see pictures that recall wonderful memories of times the family has spent together.
As it turns out, Papa and Grandma already enjoy the pictures because they remind us of your recent visits. So here is one picture I enjoy. I hope you will one day enjoy it as much as I do.

Papa loves you.

2009-09-14T07:01:00.000-07:00

Dear Squeaky,

Grandma and I are still tired from your visit, and it was a joy to have you here. I could not believe how much you had changed. I saw you sit up and think you will soon be crawling.

Your smile is more beautiful than ever. Your Dad has no chance against it (you will know what I mean when you are older).Papa loves you

2009-08-11T05:11:00.000-07:00

Dear Squeaky,
It was nice having you here this past week and seeing how much you've grown. You actually get prettier each time I see you, and your smile is a jewel. I bet you're anxious to see your daddy when he gets home this weekend. When you are older I am sure he will tell you all about Germany and Denmark.

Tell mom that I hope she feels better.

Papa love you

2009-07-23T06:05:00.000-07:00

Dear squeaky,
It is July of 2009, and I just met you and mom for lunch at the Olive Garden in Illinois. I must say, you are more beautiful each time I see you. And how fun it is to see you beginning to hook up your central nervous system and relate to the outside world (read: me). What I mean is that is exciting to watch you grow.

I look forward to seeing you crawl, then walk and, finally, drive your mom and dad nuts. And, if they ever yell at you, call Papa or Grandma. We will back you up.

Papa loves you.

2009-06-12T14:21:00.000-07:00

Dear Squeaky,

Sunday is fathers' day, so give your daddy a big hug and squeak something nice to him. He loves you so much and would do anything for you.

And remember,
Papa loves you

2009-06-08T05:17:00.000-07:00

Dear Squeaky,

You and mom just visited, and it was great to see (and hear) you both. Grandma and I were amazed at the amazing sounds that you are already able to make at your young age. Two in particular deserve awards.

In second place is the rumble-blaster that sounds a bit like a cannon and usually occurs shortly after you take in a bottle of milk. It is, I suppose, a helpful sound as it leads one of us to take action that results in positive actions that help preserve your hygiene. Then, there is the squeak.

In first place is the plethora of squeaky sounds you make while asleep. While endearing and cute in of themselves, they wake Papa up every time you make them. I guess that, in my sleep, I hear you and think you are getting up. As a result, morning finds you rested and hungry while I look like I've been sleeping under a tree. Anyway, as far as I am concerned, your new name (of endearment) is Squeaky.

Just remember,
Papa loves you.

2009-05-31T18:34:00.000-07:00

Dear Ady,
Your visit was amazing, and I loved having you here and holding you. What I don't understand is how you could have slept 98% of the time and still manged to exhaust 3 adults. Any way, I love the little squeaks you make when you sleep...even though they wake me up.

I just saw the pictures mom posted. They brought back fond memories of your visit here and when grandma and I visited you there. Stay well and remember...

Papa loves you.

2009-04-27T06:40:00.000-07:00

Dear Ady,

Welcome to the world, and welcome to the family. As I write this, you are about 10 days old and sleeping most of the time. It is a Monday, and you have just spent a weekend with grandma and me up here in Milwaukee. The joy your presence has brought us is immense. You have no idea how a new life affects a family.

From time to time, I will leave notes or you on this site. As you get older, you may want to read them (when you can understand them). If you chose not to, that is okay as well. You see, you have your own life to create, and you shouldn't let anyone "should" you. Yes, there will be things that mom and dad will not allow you to do because they are unsafe or unwise. But, as you grow older, there will be decisions for you to make, and only you will be able to make them. Don't let others decide what is best for you. Get advise from people you trust and make your own decisions.

Wow, I am really getting ahead of the time. For now, just remember what I always say to you and your cousin, Joseph:

Papa loves you