Last Sunday morning we went on a tour of the new National's ballpark. I went to a game the week before with my boyhood friend Steve Feldman. It was the second game to be played there.



It wasn't as cool as the tour of Fenway that I took, but hopefully it helped get the guys excited for Nats baseball. Maybe it did. Here are some of Joe's drawings from this week.





Also last weekend, Joe and I went to watch the Caps play in a Stanley Cup playoff game. They won. It was great.

We went to RFK last night to watch the Nationals play the Giants.



I think it will be the last time we'll go to the stadium. The team is moving to a new stadium for next season.

I saw a lot of Senators and Redskins games at RFK. I even saw the rock 'n roll band The Rolling Stones play there. I think them may knock RFK down. That's sad. I guess you have to be a super old survivor like Fenway Park not to get knocked down for something new.

Here are some pictures of Jack at Camp Ramah. The camp posts pictures up on its website every few days so moms and dads can see their kids having fun. Mom gets VERY excited when she sees one with Jack in it. He wasn't in many last year, but this year is another story. I don't know if he is doing a better job hamming it up for the camera, or the camp is taking a lot more photos than before.



I just sent Jack a package with some Simpson's comic books. It felt really good being at the post office sending that package. It was an awesome "Dad" moment. I have emailed him every other day. In addition to sending him his Simpson's character, I emailed him this story.



The Reliable Source

By Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts
Wednesday, July 4, 2007; Page C01

Michael Jackson Seeks New Neverland

On Eastern Shore Sometimes the unlikeliest rumors do turn out to be true. Days after the first vague news reports emerged from Maryland's Eastern Shore of a real-estate-hunting Michael Jackson, the singer's reps finally broke their silence to confirm in part -- and deny in others -- the story that has had the rural peninsula buzzing.

Jackson's D.C.-based publicist, Raymone Bain, called us late Monday and said that yes, indeed, the self-proclaimed King of Pop really did visit the Eastern Shore last week "for about 24 hours," and that he really did scout out some summer houses.

But, no, he hasn't made a purchase yet, contrary to some of the more heated Internet speculation. And he's not limiting his search to the Chesapeake region: He has since "gone up the coast" to look elsewhere for a vacation place.

Jackson came east with his children about 10 days ago for meetings because "the majority of his advisers and attorneys are on the East Coast," Bain said. Meanwhile, Bain told us, "He's always admired the properties on the East Coast because they have a lot of land. Neverland has 3,000 acres -- he likes privacy. You can't find as many properties like that on the West Coast."

The Easton Star Democrat, simply citing "inside sources," reported Friday that Jackson had spent the previous night at the historic Inn at Perry Cabin in the picturesque waterfront community of St. Michaels. Inn managers declined to comment. (Bain, too, would not specify where her client stayed.) A wave of news coverage followed, although none managed to cite any definite sightings of Jackson. WBAL-TV captured video of sheets shrouding the path from the inn's exit to a waiting limousine . . . which certainly seemed like vintage Jacko.

Still, high-end real estate, of which the shore has plenty, is often a breeding ground for false VIP rumors. (Remember the Brangelina-buying-in-Kalorama one? Or TomKat-moving-to-NoVa? So juicy, so not true. ) And it remains unclear whether Jackson could actually afford a new home: In recent years, prosecutors and former financial advisers have alleged in court that the star is teetering on bankruptcy, a charge his lawyers denied; just a year ago, Jackson agreed to settle some of his mounting debts by selling half of his valuable music publishing catalogue, which includes the rights to the Beatles' songs.

A week ago, Bain was busy issuing statements denying that Jackson was on his deathbed or had been evicted from his part-time Vegas rental (he simply decided not to exercise an option to buy, she said); so while she was on the phone with us Monday, she took the time to clear up some other lingering rumors: No, he's not looking to move permanently to the East Coast -- just to buy a vacation place. And no, he didn't come east for a kidney transplant. (Whoa, we hadn't even heard that one.) "It's so much chaos and confusion," she said.

What was the purpose of his meetings out here? "A laundry list" of issues, Bain said. "He's head of a vast corporation."

As I said to Jack in my email, can you imagine seeing Michael Jackson ordering Moose Tracks at Justine's. I can't imagine Papa Sy and Michael Jackson bonding over crabs at the Crab Claw.

Meanwhile, I have fallen madly in love with your cousin Noah. He is beyond cute. We are at Aunt Abby's beach house right now for the Fourth of July.



I told Mommy that there is something about this house that makes me sad. It is a beautiful house and it is terrific being with Michael, Rachel, Josh, Noah, Bing and your Aunt and Uncle, but I feel a bit off-kilter. Not sure how it feels to be on kilter or what kilter is, but that is how I feel.

I have a Mother's Day letter that I haven't put on here. It was a weird morning because I looked at Mom and asked her if she was feeling alright. And she looked at me and said she was wondering the same thing about me.

I have been thinking about Grandma a lot. I think it might be partly because Papa Teddy is getting married. I miss her.

Here is a card that Jack made for Mom and let me tell you it made her day complete. She said it was the nicest thing anyone could ever say. I think Jack has a future at Hallmark Greeting Cards.

Mom, nobody's perfect but to me you are.



Joe made these for Mom. He is very into making hearts.





And here are cards you made for Mom years ago.







My Mother's Day present for Mom was to take us all to the Nationals game. I figured having all of her boys happy and smiling with her out in the fresh air was a good gift.





When we got back we had a big Mother's Day barbeque in our backyard for all the Strongins, Cherners and Goldbergs. Here are your cousins on the back steps.





It was a nice day.

I have an old friend named Noah, like the guy with the ark, and he just sent me some pictures from the time we worked together at VarsityBooks. You and Jack were well known by everyone there. I took you to all of the stuff we used to do together, like picnics and go to baseball games.

Here are some of the pictures that Noah sent. Jack looks like he is auditioning for American Idol.







That's you in Tim's arms. I guess you're being a bit camera shy. That's rare. Fortunately.



We are going to see Tim and Catherine's new baby, Alison, this weekend out at St. Michaels.



She is brand-spanking, new, fresh-out-of-the-oven.

Here is you in a less-than-shy moment. Isn't this photo awesome. Look at that Henry smile you've got working. I showed this to Mom, and it made her so happy. It is like a present to get something like this - a picture of you we've never seen.



I am going to get a bunch of tickets for the Nationals next year. They are moving into a brand new stadium. My friend Steve showed me this cool website were you can watch the stadium being built. Steve and I grew up together. We used to play ping pong all the time in our basement. He had a Senators pennant hanging in his room.

Clark Construction: Construction Camera



Joe and I went to a game last weekend. Uncle Andrew, Aunt Tracy, Emma and Sam were at the same game. They moved from their seats and came and sat with us. Hopefully we can go together to games next season at the new ballpark. I will miss RFK. I've seen many great Redskins games there and Senators and Nationals games.

Today was Joe's birthday. He turned five. He is energetic and loud and frustrating and beautiful. I cannot believe he is older than you were when you had your bone marrow transplant. I don't know how you did it when you were so young. You seemed so grown up to me.

Joe got a fish from Papa Teddy. He named it "Potato Man." Mom and I gave him a Nationals jacket and a Red Sox jersey with his name and number "1" on the back. We also went and bought him a new baseball bat at Galayans, now Dicks. His bat is really beat up with all of these dents. Not sure where they're from - maybe Joe is hitting Jack on his hard head with the bat.

I think he liked everything. The birthday pageant is almost over. Nana has a cake ready for us when we get to St. Michaels tonight. It is - of course - a baseball cake. I wonder if he is going to grow out of this or if it is something he'll stick with for a long time. I'll report back next October 6.

Joe's birthday was the usual mayhem. We had all of his boy classmates over. He isn't too comfortable with girls. We went and played baseball at Stoddert and returned home for cake. It was interesting to see that most of the boys weren't all that familiar with baseball. When some of them hit the ball they started running for third base. I started with the wrong assumption that they were all crazy about the game just like Joe. One dad said it was the first time his son had ever gotten up to bat. That felt nice to hear.

Even though Joe probably would have stayed there all day, we moved the party inside after everyone got a chance to hit and ran around the bases - in the right direction. After the boys tore apart the basement we lit the candles and sang to Joe. Mom got Joe (what else) a baseball cake at Max's.

Notice how Joe and Mom are wearing matching National's jerseys. They both look pretty darn cute. Oh, and check out the baseball plates. Mom took care of everything.





We went to the Nationals/Mets game after the party. The Nationals lost 6 to 2. I wanted to get Joe's name up on the scoreboard. But it cost $100 for a Happy Birthday message. Can you believe that. Wow, that's a lot.

The best thing is when they did have the birthday messages on the scoreboard the song Happy Birthday played in the stadium. Joe sang along and he was sure they were playing it just for him. Nice.

Tonight is Kol Nidre and the start of Yom Kippur. I will remember to bring a picture of you for Yizkor. I like to look at your face during that service.

Joe's birthday "pageant" started last night. Overdoing it is how we roll in this family. Tomorrow we are going to have a bunch of his friends from school over to -- bet you can't guess -- play baseball for his party. After the party we are going to go to the last Nationals game of the season. They are playing the New York Mets.

So last night Joe and his team the Pirates had a game and his cousins came to watch.



Even little cutie cousin Noah came. He looks a lot like Uncle Andy. Noah was born after you died. Maybe he'll read this one day and know you a little.

Friday was a beautiful fall night. Perfect for baseball. He plays at Macomb Park - the Choo Choo Park as you knew it.



They cheered him on and in true Joe fashion he played to the crowd. He definitely likes to show his stuff, and didn't disappoint.











Bam!







Look how big Michael and Joshua are. I am glad to see in this picture that Jack seems excited for Joe. Joe gets on Jacks nerves a lot by just being a little brother. Kinda like how Jack was with you.

After baseball we went to Cactus Cantina for dinner. Joe loved all the attention and the company of Joshua and Sam. We then went back to Calvert Street for birthday cake. When it got late Emma and Rachel went down to Rachel's house to sleep and the boys camped out all over our house.

Michael is very into music. He looked through all of our CDs and kept asking me and Mom if he could put stuff on his laptop, which he brought with him.

I wondered a lot what it would be like if you were still around. In groups, whether it is your cousins or your friends or your classmates, I am very aware of you not being there.

I miss you.