Nostalgia

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Dear Jack: You Now Love Music from 1983, Like Me

9 years, 8 months.

Dear Jack,

As I was getting you ready for bed Tuesday night, you showed me Mommy’s old cell phone with a cracked screen, and said, “Daddy, watch this.”

I immediately knew what it was from the first note of the song: It was the music video for the song “Our House” by Madness.

You were so excited when you learned that I have owned that CD since I was in high school, along with Men at Work; another band whose string of hits you can’t help but love: “Who Can It Be Now?”, “Down Under”, and “Be Good Johnny”.

This week as I’ve worked from the kitchen table (which currently serves as my office), you have been playing a music video playlist from 1983; which happens to be my favorite year of music.

While you play war with your action figures, along barricades you made from Jenga blocks, you have Mommy’s phone propped up playing the soundtrack: “We can dance if we want to…”

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: The Song Wrote About You- “If She’s a Princess, I’m a King”

4 years, 3 months.

Dear Holly,

Earlier this summer, I challenged myself to write a song about you- specifically, about our relationship as father and daughter.

This past week, I finished writing the song and published it to my YouTube channel.

The concept is this: You are a princess. Since I am your father, that means that I am a king.

Here are the lyrics:

Never thought I’d be the king of anything/Or live in a castle married to a queen/ It never seemed that would be my reality/Then I met a girl who changed everything/Those blue eyes are still a mystery/And when she smiles at me, it’s all that I really need

Well I’m a king if she’s a princess/A slumber party in an Elsa dress/The proudest ever ballerina, the blondest ever senorita/I’m the beast and she’s the beauty/An interruption to my routine/She’s always happy when she sees me/I am royalty, believe me/If she’s a princess, I’m a king

My midlife crisis came a little soon/An existential view with doom and gloom/I was so confused thinking, “What am I here to do?”/Then I met a girl who changed everything/Those blue eyes are still a mystery/And when she smiles at me, it’s all that I really need

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Playing Animal Crossing on Gamecube with Your Cousin

9 years, 5 months.

Dear Jack: Playing Animal Crossing on Gamecube with Your Cousin

Dear Jack,

Once it became official that the school year was ending early due to COVID-19, and that you would therefore have the longest summer break of your life, I decided it was to pull out a 19 year-old game system.

I am referring to the Nintendo Gamecube- and the game, Animal Crossing.

Yes, there is a brand-new version of the game out right now on Nintendo Switch.

But it is the 2001 version that I have introduced to you.

Interesting enough, your cousin Calla always happens to own the same game at her house.

So the two of you have been able to compare each other’s unique worlds, since every version of the game is different from the next.

Animal Crossing is a good way to pass the time in a fun and constructive way!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Jumping on the Trampoline with Papa, Like 2 Kids

9 years, 5 months.

Dear Jack,

I enjoy looking out the window and seeing you jumping on the trampoline with Papa; specifically now that he is retired.

It reminds me of 30 years ago when I was your age and he would jump with me.

I’m glad he enjoys jumping with you, because for some reason, after I stopped being a kid, it started making me too dizzy and disoriented to jump on a trampoline anymore.

When I see the two of you jumping together, it makes me think of the song I recently wrote, called “These are the Good Ole Days”.

It is important to recognize how fortunate we are, even if in the moment, it doesn’t seem like we are in the good ole days; because we probably are.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: What I Was Doing During My Own Spring Break 30 Years Ago in 1990

9 years, 4 months.

Dear Jack,

This will most likely be remembered as your strangest Spring Break ever. Instead of being quarantined in our house because of the Coronavirus, you were supposed to be at Nonna and Papa’s house in Alabama this week.

Being forced to stay home during your 3rd grade Spring Break is definitely in major contrast to what I was doing exactly 30 years ago in March 1990 during mine.

That was when our family went to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida for the first time.

I specifically remember it being the first time I ever experienced a water faucet with an automatic sensor. I was amazed how I could wash my hands without having to each touch a knob.

And that was only the beginning of the amazing things I experienced in Disney World.

So yes, Disney World vs. lockdown to due the Coronavirus… quite a difference.

We’ll make the most of this, though.

Love,

Daddy