December 18, 2012 at 12:08 am , by Nick Shell

2 years, 1 month.

Dear Jack,

I had always imagined your first favorite movie being a Disney classic. However, Disney classics have been late to arrive on the scene of Netflix live streaming, soCurious George 2: Follow That Monkey! it is.

How could it not be your favorite? Curious George, The Man in the Yellow Hat, and a circus elephant named Kayla accidentally travel across America in, of all things, a train!

I have now watched Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey! somewhere around 17 times, but never all in one sitting. The same goes for you.

What I like best about us watching the movie together is when you observe out loud the relationship between Curious George and The Man in the Yellow Hat:

“George and his daddy are on the train!… George’s daddy is sleepy!… George’s daddy rides the bike!”

In other words, you perceive that The Man in the Yellow Hat is Curious George’s biological father. So that makes George like a half-boy, half-monkey missing link.

It’s sweet of you to associate their relationship to a real father and son. You observe the kind ways The Man in the Yellow Hat treats Curious George and relate it to how I treat you.

Granted, I’m reading between the lines on that, but I’m pretty sure that’s what you’re doing.

I have a feeling that a lot of little boys think the same thing about Ted Shackelford (A.K.A. The Man in the Yellow Hat) being George’s Daddy.

Likewise, I bet there are plenty of dads (and moms) out there who think their own young son reminds them of a curious little monkey.

I think about how often when we are together, you say “Daddy hold you.” That’s my cue to pick you up, like a pet monkey, as you wrap your arm around my neck and we take a walk, exploring the world.

You’re my monkey. I am the Man in the Yellow Hat.

Love,

Daddy