LIVE WITH DISAPPOINTMENT

Dear Spike:

I've said it before, I'll say it again: If you're going to root for The Beavers, you're going to have to get used to disappointment.

One win away from earning its first Rose Bowl appearance since the Vietnam War, OSU couldn't get the best of the team in the ugly green and yellow uniforms from Eugene. That team (the name of which shall not be spoken in our family) racked up a huge win...

... against Oregon State's injured quarterback and Oregon State's second-string running back.

Oooh. Impressive.

And this, my darling little daughter, leads us to today's lesson in how to live with disappointment: You can't win all the time, but you can almost always find some way to undercut the significance of the other team's victory.

That won't make you happy, but it'll annoy the enemy. And on days like today, that's at least something.

Love,
dad

THE BEAVER CALL

Dear Spike:

We come together one...

We come together all...

And when we come together...

We do the Beaver Call! 

You attended your first Oregon State football game this evening. It didn't end as we'd hoped (if you're going to be a Beaver Believer, that's something you might just have to get used to.) Still, you definitely had a good time.

You cheered. You shook an orange and black pompom. You ate ice cream. And when it was all said and done, you walked out of the stadium with your head held high...

... and then promptly fell asleep on your mother's shoulder. 

Love,

dad  

WHAT'S FOR DINNER

Dear Spike:

Duck. It's what's for dinner.

OSU Beavers 38, UO Ducks 31.

Love,
dad

IN OSU ORANGE

Dear Spike:

A lovely surprise today! Your mother called me into your bedroom and proudly presented you in the outfit in which we had intended to bring you home from the hospital.

It’s still a bit baggy on you, but you look darn good in Oregon State University orange.

Go Beavers.

Love,
dad