MY LITTLE PARTNER

Dear Spike:

Your mother called today with the good news: "She got into Highland," she said.

Yes.

Fist pump.

I might as well have learned you'd gotten into Harvard.

There weren't many openings at the preschool we'd chosen for you, but just the same we really weren't looking anywhere else. This school — mostly for the children of Salt Lake School District employees — seemed to have the right combination of location, curriculum and price.

We sat you down in the hallway to tell you the news.

You jumped for joy. I beamed with pride.

And then I went into my room and cried.

For nearly four years you've been my little partner at home. It hasn't always been easy, but we've played games and taken walks. You've gone with me on assignments and waited patiently for me as I've hurried through my writing chores. We've read books, watched movies, made cake. We've spent entire days at the park, in the mountains, at the pool.

Now I'm off to a new job and you're off to a new school.

Well, not for a few months more, at least.

So here it is: The last hurrah. You and me, kiddo. And, oh my, how we're going to make the best of it.

Carpe vicis.

Love,
dad