You gave my stepson a wonderful Christmas.
He’s with us this year, because he’s supposed to be moving to New York in February. His mother and two older sisters are in New York right now.
His mother’s family is more dysfunctional than anything you’ve ever seen on television. They don’t speak, let alone get on Springer and throw food at each other. The only normal family the boy knows is ours. He’s not my blood, but he thinks of you and Mike as his grandparents.
My brother and I grew up in a family that was not dysfunctional, but it did have divorced parents and grandparents, plus a metric buttload of stepfamily. It was normal for us. You and my brother know this, but you both also know just how badly Timi needs family. Tonight, you both stepped up to the plate and hit back-to-back home runs.
Mom, Timi loves his Tinkertoys. Until tonight, he’d never even heard of them. And he can’t wait to watch the “Way Cool Creepy Crawlies” video. Oh, he also took the flashlight that has the color changer to bed with him, not because he’s scared, but because he adores it.
Jef, the radio from the Sports Spectator Kit you got him, and I am not kidding, was proclaimed “the best present in the whole world!” He listened to it all the way home.
Just before he went to bed, I asked him if he’d had a good time tonight. He said “Yes! I didn’t want to leave, but I knew that if we didn’t get home and get to bed, Santa wouldn’t come.” Hey, he’s only seven, and at Christmas, Santa takes priority.
But you two gave him a marvelous Christmas. He’s gone to bed a very happy little boy, thanks to you. Of course, he’s still got Santa, us, and the only other grandparents he’s got, my dad & his wife, but you two kicked it off better than any little kid could ever ask for.
Thanks, Mom & Jef. Thank you so much. I love you.
