To my little Girl... or boy if the ultrasound was wrong.

Recently, when I have had time to think, I have begun to think about what it is going to be like being and actual Dad. So I have decided to write to my daughter...

Dear Evie,

This is your Father talking to you. Assuming you someday read this, here is the current state of things. I currently am in an interesting position where I have a job but at the same time I don't. Hopefully, this will never happen to you but if it does, I will help you any way I can. You Mom is currently Windexing everything in our apartment, probably hoping you will get uncomfortable with all her movement and decided to come out. That's right baby girl, you are still in the womb. In fact, you could still be a boy. (If that is the case, son I am sorry but you can replace everything in this writing that refers to you as a female with the male reference.) We have two dogs, Ares and Dexter and they are 2 and 1 respectively. Those two are currently both on the couch curled up next to each other "sleeping."

Now I am sure as you are reading this you are trying to imagine what the apartment is like. Well, its nothing like that entertainment system Dad has setup downstairs. Yep, instead of that 62 inch wide-screen with 10.1 surround sound and all the coolest gadgets you have ever seen, I just have a 26 inch rear-view projection (tube) TV with 5.1 surround sound. I know its amazing to think of how far we have come but trust me, it was an exciting time. Currently I am sitting in your Dad's oldest chair, yep the black leather one. Although right now the ottoman is from the Nursery, I hopefully have a real one by now.

Okay, on to some words of advice from your 23 year old father. I'm probably a huge push-over by now but you need to know I wasn't always that way. If you could only see me today... Carrie do this,and Caroline do that. I ran this apartment like it was a military outfit. However, I am sure that will all change the day I see your beautiful face. You have already smoothed out my rough edges at just the thought of you and I can only imagine how you will further do so into your 20's. So my advice to you is this. Find a good man who will love you for not only who you are but who you want to be. And warn him, that I will kick his ass if he hurts you. Or I will have one of your younger brothers do it. (if you don't have any brothers then Daddy failed... if the younger daughters are reading this, I love you and ignore the previous sentence... Sons if you exist, I hope you are bigger than your Father and if not, that's okay... it just makes me feel better when I beat you in Basketball.)

Anyway, this is suppose to be for you Evie. I don't know what has happened to you in your life and even now (in the future that is) I am sure there are many things I don't know. But know this, you have a Wonderful family and support system. If you have any problems go to them and pray as hard as you can because God can heal anything. Also, you can always rely on these things: Your father, your mother, your family, a good hot bath, the Lions losing, the Red Wings winning a Cup in your lifetime and God. Now of course those weren't in the order of importance but you get the idea.

I love you.

Dad


Last Call
Tonight my last call goes out to the Lions. Again, you find a way to lose like nobody else could and for this I thank you.