Carrots and showtunes

Hi again Greg, 

Leo happened upon a book tucked away in the backseat today. It's called The Carrot Seed and I thought it might be a good one to share with you. Its colour scheme is mostly yellow, and that's the sunny colour I associate most with you. It's about a boy who just keeps believing in what he can do when everyone else says he can't. In the end he gets a giant carrot that's strangely pinkish in colour (so it must be a very special heritage variety and will probably win him 1^st place at the NITTYGRITTY-BRAMACHINGWINGDING or whatever that particular highlight of the Bramalea social calendar is called).

 Here's the text. You kind of have to picture whimsical drawings of a determined little boy in overalls to go with it.

A little boy planted a carrot seed.

His mother said, "I'm afraid it won't come up."

His father said, "I'm afraid it won't come up."

And his big brother said, "It won't come up."

Every day the little boy pulled up the weeds around the seed and sprinkled the ground with water. But nothing came up.

And nothing came up.

Everyone kept saying it wouldn't come up.

But he still pulled up the weeds around it every day and sprinkled the ground with water.

And then, one day,

A carrot came up,

Just as the little boy had known it would.

 

Ok, so that's a little story from Leo for you.... I read him Olivia tonight and we dedicated it to you. By the way, he wants you to know that "a night train is one that picks up the people waiting at the station at night" and that "a lamppost is a lamp that you sit on". 

Greg, everywhere I go, I hear ridiculous songs that you have belted out at one time or another, particularly in the morning. I hope someone manages to tune your radio to an appropriate station (I couldn't get the reception), or maybe brings in some Bonnie Tyler, Pat Benatar, Sinead, Madonna or old showtunes. 

I remembered a story you told me about a long train ride in Europe, back before we even met. The train was packed and you had to stand for hours. To pass the time you concentrated on trying to remember all the lyrics to Meatloaf's Paradise by the Dashboard Light. And you can probably still recite them. (Of course we also once attempted this as an ill-fated karaoke duet at the old Gladstone but enough about that evening!). 

I think that you should try this trick now to help get you through this uncomfortable and challenging situation. Pick a great ballad and concentrate, I know you'll get through it and finally remember all the words. I am waiting here with baited breath to find out what you pick and hear you sing it start to finish.

I love you Greg.