Dear Holly: Little Drummer Girl

4 years, 4 months.

Dear Holly,

One of the many personal advantages I’ve had during 2020, the Year of Covid Culture, is that I have had more time than ever to focus on writing new songs.

While I was at the kitchen table practicing my newest song, “Ecclesiastes”, getting it ready to record for one of my YouTube channels, you decided to turn my practice into a jam session.

You found a big plastic bucket and two toy plastic forks and dragged them into the kitchen.

Surprisingly in sync with the rhythm of my song, you began planning the drums

I think you may be on to something there…

Love,

Daddy

Dear Jack: Your 1st Week of 4th Grade, Actually in the Classroom, “Face Mask to Face Mask”

9 years, 9 months.

Dear Jack,

Despite 4th grade having had started a couple of weeks ago, it wasn’t until this week that you actually got to start going to your physical classroom at your school and meet your classmates, as well as your teacher, face to face.

Granted, when I say “face to face”, I of course mean “face mask to face mask”.

You explained to me that you are allowed to take your masks off during recess, “unless we get to close to each other”.

I then envisioned what the game of Tag would look like:

You keep the mask off until you’re close enough to tag the person, then you hurry to reach in your pocket to put your mask back on before you tag them.

Yeah… ’cause that oughtta stop the spread of Covid alright!

 

Love,

Daddy

Dear Holly: Your New Pre-K Big Girl Bed!

4 years, 3 months.

Dear Holly,

As a convenient side effect of Mommy needing to move the guest bed out of the office to accommodate your brother starting 4th grade from the guest room, you have now inherited the guest bed as your own!

That means you got moved up from your little bed to a very big, comfy one!

You are very proud to move up to your “big girl bed”, which happens to line up with you starting Pre-K.

The next step is to paint your bedroom pink; hopefully Labor Day Weekend.

I know you are going to love it!

Love,

Daddy

Dear Jack: Your Pet Lizard’s Military Training

9 years, 9 months.

Dear Jack,

During your breaks during the school day, as you are currently starting 4th grade from our guest bedroom, you often like to take out your pet pine lizard Serenity.

This week you have been introducing her to your military toys. Specifically, she has taken a liking to the helicopter.

I can’t explain it, but she sincerely seemed to be proud to be piloting the vehicle. As if in her mind, she was part of an important military mission.

And to think, you’ve now had your pet lizard for over a month at this point!

Love,

Daddy

Dear Jack: Your New Lizard-Themed Chuck Taylor Shoes for 4th Grade

9 years, 8 months.

Dear Jack,

You got to start your first full week of 4th grade with a totally unique pair of Chuck Taylor schools.

The only thing is, you haven’t actually got to wear them to school yet, since your’re starting out with “remote learning” from the guest bedroom of our house.

Leave it to you to find a pair with colorful lizards.

This is of course relevant to your life, as you have now owned your pet pine lizard for about a month now.

I think by the time you finally get settled into this “remote learning” thing, you’ll get to go to class in an actual classroom at your school- and show off your one-of-a-kind shoes!

 

Love,

Daddy