Photos of the day. Different carousels, different parks. Maybe one of these is Funland.

I had been pretty sad for a couple of weeks last month and then I pulled myself out of it. I really don't know what was wrong. I got a little worried so I went to talk to the person who is like a doctor who helps me with these things. I told her what was going on and she said it sounded like I was dysthymic, which means sad, but not so super sad that you need medicine or anything.

I've never heard that word before. I doubt I'd ever use it in conversation.

"Hey, how are you doing?"

"Oh, I am feeling kinda dysthymic today."

And then just as I had gotten sad, I started to get happy again. Today has been a day when I got sad again, but I don't think it will last too long. When I get like I am today, I feel like I have had the wind knocked out of me. Remember when you fell off the playground equipment at Adas and they called the Emergency Squad. I think you must have had the wind knocked out of you.

Another thing that made me sad this morning is an advertisement I read in the newspaper. It seems that this girl named Alexandra Scott, who was just a little bit older than you (Jack is now older than you ever were - Mom pointed that out to me the other day) died on August 1.

The advertisement was taken out by a car company called, Volvo. The ad said,

Life dealt Alex the most "bitter" of lemons yet she made out of her life the sweetest lemonade. She captures our hearts. She inspired us with her ability to live life to the fullest, to help others. In doing so, she humbled us.

The other day when I went to Georgetown to drop off band-aids, I picked this brochure up at the front desk of the clinic.



I read it and thought it was really great what Alex was doing. I figured that she was going to be okay. I also thought of you because Mommy had written this for the Hope for Henry Foundation.

Henry embraced each opportunity for living completely and reminded the rest of us to do so. His sparkly eyes, mischievous grin and infectious smile taught us the importance of maintaining normalcy within the family unit in a life fraught with illness and uncertainty. He had ice cream for dinner and transitioned from the hospital to running a lemonade stand in a matter of minutes. He did all these things because at that moment in time he could – and because he knew enough to go when the going was good. HFHF will continue Henry’s magical way of making each day matter.

I won't be sad long this time. We are going on vacation to the beach. You can't be sad at a place called "Funland," right.

We got this postcard yesterday. I called the dentist's office this morning and told them that they could take you off their mailing list. I didn't go into why. They are the same folks who sent you the birthday card last year or something. It made me feel weird then. This just made me feel sad.





I cried when I got in the car to go to work this morning. After getting this postcard yesterday and watching the TV this morning - I was ready. I put the music on when I got in the minivan (the iPod, which I still haven't explained to you) and a song was playing that I used to crank up real loud whenever I left you at Georgetown Hospital for the night with Mom. I used to drive home to sleep with Jack and for some reason always play this one song, Sweet Child O' Mine, really loud in the car. The line that sticks in my brain is

I hate to look into those eyes
And see an ounce of pain

Lately, I've been playing the original version of this song, which is by a group called Guns 'n' Roses. I think it is about mommy and daddy type love, but I always think of you as the Sweet Child O' Mine. When I used to listen on my way home from Georgetown I'd play a version by a singer named Sheryl Crow. That's a good one, too.

Sweet Child O' Mine

She's got a smile that it seems to me
Reminds me of childhood memories
Where everything
Was as fresh as the bright blue sky
Now and then when I see her face
She takes me away to that
special place
And if I stared too long
I'd probably break down and cry

Sweet child o' mine
Sweet love of mine

She's got eyes of the bluest skies
As if they thought of rain
I hate to look into those eyes
And see an ounce of pain
Her hair reminds me
of a warm safe place
Where as a child I'd hide
And pray for the thunder
And the rain
To quietly pass me by

Sweet child o' mine
Sweet love of mine

Where do we go
Where do we go now
Where do we go
Sweet child o' mine

Molly and her family were on TV this morning. Molly looks so good and so grown up. Adam is very handsome. I saw pictures of them back in June when I saw Jack and Lisa in Chicago.

http://mms.tveyes.com/ExpandGuest.asp?ln=51179

This is a picture we took the day we left Minnesota. We were over at the clinic getting checked out and then walked over to see the Nash's who were on the transplant floor for some reason.





I remember being more hopeful than worried. I thought it was a good sign that you and Molly were out walking around amongst the people. As you can see, you were not too enthusiastic about having your picture taken.

I am watching the first video we ever took of you. You are a few weeks old. We are in Annapolis at Nana and Papa Sy's house for Thankgiving. Bill and Cristina are with us. You are getting a bath. I bring this up because you are doing something in the bathtub that I forgot about. You used to make a fist and clutch your left arm close to your body. Neither Jack or Joe did that. I bet it worried us but the doctors I am sure said it was nothing. I want to remember all of these little things. I am glad we have the videos.

I wrote you a letter last night but it disappeared. I told you how I was still transferring videos of you on to DVD. I watched one called "Happy 7th Birthday to Henry." All of your classmates from JPDS sang Happy Birthday to you in English and in Hebrew. Mrs. Singer said that she missed you and loved you.

I was thinking back about how I had wanted to get teleconferencing for you so you could see and hear your class, and they could see and hear you. I tried to get in touch with the CEO of a company that makes equipment that lets you do that. I never heard back. I should have been smarter about that.

One other thing I tried to do and failed was to get the basement turned into a fun classroom and retreat for you.



I wrote an application to a television show called While You Were Out to have them come to our house when you were in the hospital and make the basement a classroom. You weren't in the hospital at the time, but unfortunately I knew that you would go back in sooner or later.

I thought it would be a great surprise and make you happy. I never heard back from them either.

Yesterday morning I met with some people who are going to make our house bigger. We couldn't do any construction when you were alive. We were told to keep you away from construction sites because the dust was dangerous for you. I think it will be a little crazy around here until they finish but it will be nice to have more space. I'll put up pictures of the changes.

I am watching John Edwards, the guy who lost his son. He hasn't said anything about his son yet. We'll see.

I love talking about you. I love writing to you.

I love you.

Photo of the day.

Joe asked me to read this to him last night. I am pretty sure that I got it at the Barnes and Noble in the shopping center next to Calhoun Beach Club in Minneapolis. I bought it more for Jack, than you I seem to recall.

This is the Thomas the Tank Engine book that features Henry.

I never had noticed this page before.

Photo of the day.



This is us with President Clinton. He spoke on TV last night and was really good.



You were a Clinton supporter even when you were a baby. That is Aunt Alice feeding you at their beach house.

President Clinton is really smart and knows a lot of things. One thing that you taught him about was Rescue Heroes. You were holding a card when we met him and you told him what it was. Cal Ripken was very cool because he really knew a lot about Pokemon when you talked to him.

We had Jack stay up a little late to listen but he was busy reading and didn't really pay attention. I think that it might be a little hard for him to understand.





Bill Clinton was speaking at something called a convention. I have been to two and they are a lot of fun. On the photo above you see this thing hanging from my neck. It is called a credential. They let you go places at the convention. The other photo was taken inside the place where the convention was being held. If Elvis ran he'd win. My first job out of college was working for a guy named Walter Mondale who ran for President. He was from Minnesota.

Check out the white stuff on my nose in the next picture. This was when I worked for Mondale for President. Remember how we used to sing the song

I WANNA BE A LIFEGUARD
Blotto

Selling shoes
Another loser working in a shopping mall

9 to 5
A slave driver telling me "Get on the ball!"

A crowded store
I kneel before them
Misery beyond compare
Sweaty socks
A lady boxer
What's she got against fresh air?

I want an ocean and some sunscreen lotion
Take me to the beach with a thousand pretty girls in reach
I, I, I wanna be a lifeguard (help,help,help,help)
I, I, I wanna guard your life
I, I, I wanna be a lifeguard (lifeguard, lifeguard)
Hardly any clothes (lifeguard)
Sand between my toes (lifeguard)
White stuff on my nose

Selling shoes
Another loser working in a shopping mall

I'm getting fat
What does it matter?
Nobody cares at all

But next July, I'll say goodbye to every out-of-it, dull-witted fool
Convert their feet into meters, marking distance at the swimming pool

Summer blondes revealing tan lines
I'll make more moves than Allied Van Lines

I, I, I wanna be a lifeguard (be a big man, now...get a great tan, now)
I, I, I wanna guard your life
I, I, I wanna be a lifeguard (lifeguard, lifeguard)
Sitting on my chair (lifeguard)
In the salty air (lifeguard)
White stuff on my nose

I, I, I wanna be a lifeguard (help,help,help,help)
I, I, I wanna guard your life
I, I, I wanna be a lifeguard (lifeguard, lifeguard)

Lounging on the deck (lifeguard)
Whistle 'round my neck (lifeguard)
White stuff in my nose
I, I, I wanna be a lifeguard (lifeguard, lifeguard)




Each time I went to a convention my guy, like Mondale, lost. So I just don't go anymore. It is better for the country.

There is an election again like the one when Al Gore ran against George Bush for President. You guys voted in your class in the Gan.



This is a picture of me with George Bush's dad, George Bush. Isn't that interesting, they have the same name. Jews don't do that. We only name our babies after people who have died. I guess that is another way for the person who is dead to live on. I think it would hurt even more if you had a son who died who had the same name as you.

George Bush, the daddy (and guy in the picture), lost a daughter. I wrote you a little while ago about John Edwards, who is running for Vice President, he lost his son. I wonder if he is going to talk about him when he speaks on TV later this week. When Al Gore gave one of his speeches he talked about almost losing his son, Al Gore, Jr. Clearly, they aren't Jewish either. Al Gore's son got hit by a car leaving an Orioles game. I remember when it happened. It seemed so terrible and scary.

Photo of the day.



This was at Catherine and Tim's wedding. Jim and Sam just had a baby boy. You have a new cousin, Benjamin Ari Kreindler.

We went to Pamela and Jeffrey's house in West Virginia this weekend. Ever since the Fourth of July, sitting on the roof of the car has become a big deal for Jack and Joe. Joe gets up there and says,"Fireworks." It is very cute. The house is down the block from a big stable with lots of great horses. You would have loved it. Both Jack and Joe rode Sugar the pony. Sugar was very nice. Joe said he didn't want to ride, but when I took him over to pet Sugar from her saddle, the next thing we knew Joe was riding around the barn.





Joe was wearing his cowboy boots. They used to be Josh's. Joe's favorite outfit is his pajamas and his cowboy boots.



We walked like that over to Fresh Fields the other morning.



We worked on our "loafing." West Virginia is a nice place to relax.



There is a song where they call West Virginia, "Almost Heaven." I guess we were a little closer to you, then. I want to come out to the cemetery. Hopefully I can come soon.

Love you, cowboy.

Photo of the day. I was swinging your David Ortiz bat this weekend. It feels nice. I wish it wasn't just gathering dust in my closet. Maybe Jack or Joe will use it when they get older. I think the Glover Park league has switched from aluminum bats to wood.