My dear boy,
The photograph posted here is of your grandfather (my dad) with your great-grandfather (his dad). Both of these fine men are gone now, your great-grandpa some years ago when I was a teenager and your grandpa just a few years ago now. A more detailed posting of who they were will follow later, but for now, just know that I wanted to show this photo to you. The pure simple joy shown here is amazing to me. When I see this picture, I always feel proud for some reason. Proud that I know the men in it. I remember looking at old black and white photos of relatives I never met when I was kid, and if you are anything like any other well-adjusted child/young adult, your eyes will glaze over as mine did. But some day you may care and so that is why I am here today writing this, yes? What I hope you take away here is not that you are obligated to feel tied to these men, although if I do my job here well you may, but that at the end of the day, it is truly only the joy that is remembered. These men were not perfect men. They did not always get along well and both of them had vices and tempers and all sorts of other imperfections. But as I remember them today, they both loved their families, enjoyed an adventure, loved to fish, and cooked a mean steak. I love you my boy.
