The influence of gaslight or electric light on the growth of paraheliotropic trees

[Cover: A Ship, Three masted, sailing; wind full;]

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. – Mark Twain

Josh . .

TIME IS A FUNNY THING, AND HAVING JUST READ A BIOGRAPHY OF EINSTEIN, I’M ENCHANTED BY THE NOTION OF SPACE AND TIME CURVING BACK ON ITSELF, SO THAT IF YOU GO FORWARD FAR ENOUGH, YOU RETURN TO WHERE YOU STARTED. MEMORY IS THE SHORTER WAY AROUND, AND I REMEMBER AS IF I AM THERE MY HOLDING YOU ON A GLORIOUS LATE SPRING FIRST-OF-SUMMER DAY AND SEEING THE ARC OF MY LIFE, PERHAPS CLEARLY FOR THE FIRST TIME, BENDING TOWARD GOOD & HOPE & LOVE, BECAUSE OF YOU.

LOVE,

DAD.

June 2012

You are deeply loved, Josh.

When you were just a wish and a hope; when you were a little “fish” that I carried with me and we played our little game – you pushing against my hand from the inside – a promise of the sense of humor you have always had ; when you were born & I looked into your eyes & knew that I had known you for eternity ; the baby who clung to me so ferociously ; the little boy who needed to play alone to fully realize the stories he needed to tell ; the big boy ; the young man ; the man you are today . . . having you as a son has been one of my most valued blessings. →

[over]

I have always loved you and always, always will.

Your mom