I’ve always loved golden hour, especially with family and friends. We’ve had so many of them, and as this moment approached, the memories came flooding back: waiting for Lego Batman to begin down at the lake; watching the sunset up in the mountains; friends sitting at the lake while you and your friends swam and played; the many sunsets in Hawaii at the pool or the beach; the first night as a family in Sorrento; and many more that I look forward to relishing.
When we’re young, people tell us, “Enjoy it; time flies.” How am I supposed to respond to that? There isn’t really a good response aside from, “I will.”
Then as time passes, you go from understanding the words to knowing the meaning behind them. As the years went by, I found myself trying to place subtle reminders to soak in the moments we had together. It doesn’t change the fact that time still flies, but at least I know I tried to hold onto it. Every game of H‑O‑R‑S‑E, every conversation about changes to your cars, every Christmas LEGO build—these are moments I cherish.
Yesterday was one of those days, Matt: you moved into your first apartment to start college. It’s a bittersweet moment, of course. I am thrilled with the man you’ve become. You have an empathetic spirit (never lose this), you’re full of curiosity, a willingness to try and fail—and most importantly, try again. You’re amazing at math and science, with creativity to boot.
With your car detailing and modifications, you’ve shown a great work ethic, and I’m truly excited to see where this will take you. All throughout high school you tutored students. You show tremendous patience and an ability to form well‑reasoned positions. This is what makes you a great teacher; I know because you’ve taught me many things—including re‑teaching me how to drive your manual Miata, since it’s been over twenty years since I last drove one.
I’m excited to see you continue to grow, learn, and have a positive impact on the world.
I love you, son, and I’m so proud.
~ Dad