I got up at 4 a.m. so I could get back in time to go with Mom and your brothers to today's Redskins' game. Mom and the guys picked me up at the airport and we went straight to Fedex Field.

It was hotter than the surface of the sun and Jack was definitely not-too-thrilled to be there, BUT it was an amazing game and we won.

The game was so exciting that even Jack came around. He was hi-fiving everyone. The Skins beat the Saints 29 - 24. It was perfect.

Joe had been saying forever that I'd taken you and Jack to Skin's games, but he has never gone. Today we fixed that. He turned to me during the game and said, "Dad, thanks for bringing me to the game." That was even sweeter than the victory - which was pretty sweet.

When we got on the shuttle bus to go to our car, these older guys were asking Joe if it was his first game. He said it was and then we all got to reminiscing about our first games. Mine was one of the most famous in Redskin history. Walt Garrison was dropped, and I'm talking dropped by Ken Houston just short of the endzone to secure a Monday Night win over the Cowboys. I was there with Papa Teddy. I'll never forget it.

I hope Joe will always remember today.

You've got mail!





This is one reunion I don't think we'll make. It is nice that they are having it, though.

It was gorgeous today, so Mom suggested we go to Sugarloaf Mountain. We did some hiking and climbing on boulders.

As we turned onto Sugarloaf Mountain Road, we passed by the little country store where I once carried you in to buy pumpkins. I don't know if you were really sick or if you just didn't have the right shoes (maybe there was snow on the ground).

As of a few weeks ago, Joe officially became too heavy for me to carry. I think he fell asleep on the couch watching a baseball game, what else, and I had to do the "transfer." The transfer is what Mom and I have always called successfully getting you into your beds -- from the car, the couch, the wherever you may have fallen asleep -- without waking you up.

I did get Joe into his bed, but the next morning when I woke up I couldn't move. My back had tightened up and it hurt to do anything other than lay on our bed. That was kinda uncomfortable too.

Whenever we pass that store near Sugarloaf, Mom says,"Hey, that's where we bought pumpkins." And whenever we pass that store, I think "that's where I carried Henry."



When we got home, Joe made his usual pitch to go out and play baseball at Stoddert. As we were leaving the field a mouse skittered right past me. I ran after it and caught him in my mitt. Very cute little guy. Joe was freaked out.

Right now I am sitting with Jack watching the Redskins play a preseason game at Canton, Ohio. Your Tootsie Roll-fueled cornerback, Darrell Green, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton yesterday.

Yeah, the 'Skins won. This goes into the books as a pretty perfect day.

Love you.

Joe and I went to Redskin training camp this weekend. It was us and 28,000 hot, sweaty fellow Skins lovin' folks enjoying some football in the 90 degree weather.

We actually had a good time talking in the car while we waited in traffic for the hour it took just to park. I don't think they were ready for so many people.

In the end, we decided to bail out, park somewhere close by and walk a half-mile to get in.



It was so worth it.

I have never seen players up so close before. I put Joe up on my shoulders so he had one of the best seats in the house. The Super Bowl trophies were a definite plus.

I think your brother had a good time. He has seen pictures of you and Jack at games and reminds me often that he hasn't been. We are going to remedy that this season.

And I think Joe will be playing football himself this fall. There is a kid in his class who plays in a league, and he and his dad want Joe to join their team. More on that as it gets cooler out.

Love you.

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.

Mom and I have been married for 14 years today.

I went to visit the Hasbro company for work. Hasbro, which makes Mr. Potatohead (not to be confused with Joe's fish, Potatoman), is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. How cool must it be to work there?





I remembered from driving through there a bunch of years ago that they have a minor league baseball team in Pawtucket. Maybe it was when we drove back from Boston after your hand surgery - I am not sure.

I picked up hats and t-shirts to bring back with me for your brothers.





They were pretty "underwhelmed," which means they weren't very psyched. Me... I was pretty bummed.

Way back in the 1970's, Papa Teddy went to Minnesota for business. He brought me back a purple Vikings hat with a yellow pom-pom on top. I loved that hat. I think I slept in it. I was a huge Redskins fan, but I also liked the Viking's "Purple People Eater" defense.

My first experience bringing something back for you was when I bought a small University of Michigan basketball in the Detroit airport when I had traveled there for work. I was so excited to bring you back something from my travels. It felt like a very grown up, very "Dad" thing to do. I didn't like to be away from you, but I was excited to bring you something back and see you smile. I didn't care if you were smiling for me or for the gift. I just loved to see that smile that was too big for your face.

Mom explained that because we already spoil the guys with so much "stuff," these gifts aren't really a big deal for them. She's right. I definitely go overboard. A lot of it is leftover from trying to keep you happy when it you were in so much pain. I told my friend Sally, who I am traveling with a lot, to remind me not to buy stuff.

Mom came back with all sorts of stuff from China for the guys and all the cousins. She even found Skittles with Chinese writing on the package. The guys were totally psyched about those!

December 21, 2006

Dear Henry,

I am Hugh. I know your dad has written to you about me.

Today is a sad day for me because your dad is leaving XM to pursue a career involving improving political messaging by knowing how the brain works – there is an oxymoron in there somewhere. He has been at XM for years and has become one of my closest friends, along with your mom.

Your dad showed up in my office during a challenging time in both our lives. Brought together through a game of Jewish geography, we found each other as if by fate. He was gingerly, tiptoeing his way back into the workforce after dedicating his life to your life. And I was just beginning a terrifying journey dealing with Mary Beth’s illness. Our friendship is a true testament that some good can come out the worst situations.

I can tell you honestly, that I would not have survived my journey without him. Whenever a tough medical or personal issue would arise I always said to myself, “What would Allen do?” Each time I went to him (which I did often) he would always give me the most honest and valuable advice in the most caring way.

Your dad is very impressive in so many ways. He is totally dedicated to his family, amazingly creative, compassionate and smart. He adores your mom and will do anything for her and your brothers. I will miss him at XM despite the fact that he would avoid me and never answer his cell phone.

Your dad can do anything -- Learn about the brain, start a non-profit organization dedicated to you, program a Hanukkah Channel, lobby Congress, mingle with celebrities and the security guards, start a website, play video games with Jack, baseball with Joe, ride a motorcycle, tractor, talk politics, root hopelessly for the Redskins and take care of all his friends and family…All at the same time. But I have more muscles and thicker legs and that will never change.

Your dad and I will likely see more of one another when he leaves XM and that will make Mary Beth and me very happy. The Goldberg’s are part of the Panero Posse and visa versa and no change of work address is going to change that.

So Henry, be assured that I will always lookout for your dad no matter where he works.

Love Hugh

Had a perfect morning. We let Mom sleep really late. Jack watched cartoons and read the Sunday comics. Joe and I played on the couch under a blanket. It was nice. It was also the only way to keep Joe quiet. He continues to be/play really loud. I wish I had his energy. What I need to do is get up and get him out of the house so he can run around. He really is like a puppy.

I really appreciate any quiet moments with him. I ended up going upstairs to take a shower and he laid down on the bathroom floor with my clothes as a pillow and the towel as a blanket. We had a nice conversation as I took my shower. He is super cute.

When we went back downstairs I showed him this video of you. I took this video the day he was born. You were in the hospital at Georgetown and Mom was in the hospital down the road at Sibley. Before this clip of you is video of him being born. I showed that to him and he said "disgusting." He has an excellent vocabulary.

Joe smiled the whole time he watched you. He wanted to watch it over and over.

After I filmed you I filmed Jack doing the same thing --saying hello to his new brother. In the video Jack says he is going to take care of Joe, his new brother.

When I showed that to Joe this morning he said he wanted to make sure that I would show it to Jack. When I showed it to Jack later on today he said that he broke that promise to take care of Joe. I told him that he has plenty of time to make good. It isn't too late.

I have been having a lot of trouble getting pictures and video on here lately. Strange. I went back and put on a few pictures of Thanksgiving.

Henry TV!



This video doesn't look so good, but it helped me figure out a way to make them better. I will try to go back and fix all of the others, but it will take a lot of time.

The rest of the day was pretty great except the Redskins lost. After the game Joe, Jack and I went out and played football at Stoddert until it got too dark. We needed you out there. We always have to play two men on offense and one on defense. I try and get Jack to go easy on Joe but I have a sense that he would like to put a good lick on him if he had the chance. Just a little payback for Joe being an annoying little brother.

Jack, to his credit, does show great restraint, which means he doesn't wallop Joe. I wonder what it would be like if you were around.

Tonight a Maryland basketball game is on TV. You were such a big Juan Dixon fan. Hopefully they'll be that good again this year.

I got to let Mom sleep late and play football with the boys. If the Redskins had only won... and if Maryland were to win.... well, then I would have to put this day in the perfect category. Of course if you were here then it would be a dream.

Love you.

Jack and I went to Virginia today and walked around with Bill putting flyers on peoples' doors reminding them to go and vote on Tuesday.



I am glad we took Jack. I remember when I was little and Grandma did stuff for a man named Hubert Humphrey when he was running for President. We had a Humphrey poster hanging in the basement.

The neighborhood we visited wasn't the greatest.



There were a lot of pitbulls. Jack isn't too psyched about dogs but he hung in there really well.

By the next presidential election, we will have maps like this that show each house and whether the persons who live there are Republicans or Democrats and to which campaigns they've donated. We'll be walking around looking at our phones and not carrying around xeroxed maps like we did today. Things are changing fast.

Also when I was young I remember going to a rally for a guy named Joe Tydings who was running for the Senate in Maryland. It is important that we are politically active, and that Jack and Joe learn to be involved. I told Jack how what we did today is not allowed in a lot of countries. We are lucky that we live where we do.

Then we came home and watched the Redskins win a very exciting game against the Cowboys. It was almost a perfect day. If I had gotten a nap then it would have been perfect.



Michael and Joshua went with Uncle Andy to the game. You went to games -- not sure when I took this picture of you -- and Jack has seen some great ones. Joe hasn't been to any. I'll have to fix that.

Tonight Mom and I are going to a party for Jeffrey and his book. I better wake up. It is in a house that is two doors down from Susan, Theirry, Simon and Alex's old house.



Jack had a sleepover at Simon's last night. I have been watching old videos of you lately to put on here and I have seen a lot with Simon. It is great that Jack and Simon are good friends now.

Mom asked if I was okay. I wondered why she would think I wasn't. She said because I have been "spending a lot of time with you." She means because I have been looking at all of the videos. I am spending time converting them to a format that will let me post them here.

I still don't like how good they look. I am looking at different ways to do it so they look better.

Oh, and I told Mom that I am fine. I am.

You will not believe where Jack, Joe and I were last night.

The World Series!



We flew to St. Louis to catch Game 4 of the series between the Tigers and the Cardinals. They cancelled the game the night before, and everyone - especially us - were worried that they might have to postpone again because of blurriness, I mean rain.



The last time we went to Busch Stadium it was old Busch Stadium and the game was rained out. I was hoping we'd have better luck this time around.

We did.

The new stadium was really nice and the place was buzzing. There was so much excitement. Everyone should feel a part of that at some point in there lives. I remember a few Redskins games and Maryland basketball games that had that kind of energy.

We had good seats that I got through work. Check out the mohawk on this guy sitting in front of us.



I liked the sign. While I didn't have any beers (a mistake 'cause that is what St. Louis and the stadium were built on and known for), I did have the most amazing hot dog. It was Best Kosher and smothered in fried onions. Yum. I can only pray that they have them at the new stadium in Washington.



Being with Jack and Joe at something like this was "priceless." Even though Mom thought it was great father/son bonding, I still like it when we do stuff all as a family.

In addition to mohawk-guy, there was a teeny baby sitting right in front of us with her Mom and Dad. She was great. She never cried or made a peep. She just smiled.



Joe had his usual cotton candy and cracker jacks. Joe is very good at singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." We sang that on the way over to the stadium.





We went to the game with Hannah. Aunt Jen went separately with a friend. Late in the game, Hannah, Jack, Joe and I moved down to sit with them on the first base line.



Jack took these pictures from where we were originally sitting. Scott Rolen was born the same day as Mom. I wonder why they forgot to mention that important statistic on the Jumbotron.





You and Pedro Martinez share the same birthday. I am glad we could be with Hannah, Jen and Dan so close to your birthday. Tonight we have a party for Aunt Tracy's birthday. Tomorrow we are going to a birthday dinner for Cousin Rachel. It almost slipped my mind that you guys were born 3 days apart.

The best part -- the Cardinals won 5-4! It was a great game. We had so much fun no-one noticed how late it got by the time it all ended.



We got home around 2 am our time.

Jack wanted to stay with Hannah through the weekend, but Joe wanted to come straight home. He was missing Mom so much. Even though he was having a great time, during the second or third inning he asked me when we were going home. I told Jack that the two of us would come back for a long weekend in St. Louis sometime soon. And we will.



Jack's shirt says "Cardinals" in Hebrew. I think when you were a little guy you had one that said "Michigan" in Hebrew.

Even though Mom stayed behind on this trip, we will all be going together to Ann Arbor next weekend for the University of Michigan football game. They are the second best team in the country.

Mom has a big trip of her own coming up soon. She and Suzy are going to China to see Karen. I bet they would never have guessed when they were at school in Michigan that one day they'd all be hanging out in Shanghai together.

Crazy, huh.