4/22/21

Dear Atlas,

It’s me, your Dad.

Only yesterday, I realized I’ve been writing these letters to you from the perspective of being your Dad, without thinking about them from the perspective of you reading them from your Dad.

My Dad wrote me a lot of notes, Atlas. He had his own way of doing it, from commenting on “themes” he graded to sending me countless articles about the newest and latest innovations. He did this with all of his kids because he loved sharing things with us that he knew we’d love.

I don’t know when you’ll read these notes, Atlas. Truth be told, I don’t know how I’ll one day present them to you. But I hope we’ll be together as a family when it happens.

By this time next week, you’ll be in our arms. I know many things will change after the day you arrive, and never quite be the same as they once were. With you, I’m eager to see the changes ahead.

I know what we will be gaining with you, and as a family, is far greater than anything I’ve surrendered in my life as a bachelor—even one who clings to his old habits . . .

You’re coming into a world that is ripe with change, Son. While it seems like there has never been a perfect time to come into the world, I sometimes wonder if life in the 2000s is somehow better or worse than life in another century.

In the story of Superman, his parents (Jor-El and Lara) realized their planet was dying. So, they sent their infant child to earth to have a better life. They packed a ship with the essentials he would need to survive, and then sent him off.

In some ways, I feel like your Mom and I are doing the same thing with you: preparing you for your entrance into a world that desperately needs more good people around. I hope you’ll be one of the people who makes that sort of impact on the world around you, even if it takes you a while to arrive at that point in your consciousness.

I want more than just for you to make a positive impact on others, Atlas. I also want you to fully experience the world around you and see it for the beautiful place it can be.

Yes, there are difficult times and stories to read in the news. However, there are also beautiful sunrises, love stories, songs in the dark, and epics to live . . .

I hope you have it all.

Love,

Dad