Ruby,
Hey sweetie! I hope your summer is going well. Yesterday was Father’s Day, my fourth without seeing you. I hope you thought of me, at least a little.
I wanted to write you again and set a few things straight. In my last letter, I let my emotions get the best of me, and was mean spirited about your mother and her actions. It is important that you know I think Jen is a good mother, and I know that Jen does what <b> <i> SHE </i> </b> thinks is best for you and anyone else she values in her life. Sometimes, we may have differing values on the same situation, but that is to be expected.
Consider yourself lucky to have Jen on your side. I used to say everyone needs a “Jen,” and this letter will explain why. When your mom and I first started dating, I was going to college in Indianapolis and working, but I was spending more than I was making and basically living on Ramon noodles and frozen pizza. Your mom would come to town with groceries, take me to dinner and hide money in my wallet. She would look out for me when I had no one to help me.
I didn’t have really any friends at college and when I needed to study for things, your mom would help with flash cards and asking me questions. I bet she is the only person you know (besides me) that can tell you anything about TCP/IP protocols or what a data link layer is. I know she learned a lot of tech stuff by osmosis. She helped me stay on track to better myself when I might have given up on my own.
When I would get stressed about work, or overwhelmed with fear about my future, when I couldn’t find work, or when I was scared about my mental health, your mother comforted me. Sometimes, she’d just hold me, sometimes I’d cry, but I always knew I would be ok because she believed in me.
Once when I got in trouble for driving while I was out of town for work, the lawyer told me I was going to have to go to jail for 6 months, there was no way around it. Jen came up with this elaborate story that she told the lawyer and he relayed to the state. I ended up doing 38 days. She used her head and went to bat for me and beat the court system to keep me home with you guys.
When we all went to Disney, it ended up being one of the busiest weeks at the park they’d ever had. The wait in lines were terrible, we would have rode about 3 rides a day if left to our own devices. Your mom convinced the customer service people to give us the ability to jump the line by manipulating the system. She was able to give us one of the funnest weeks at the “Happiest Place on Earth.”
Pie, I want you to know that you have an amazing mother. Jen will do whatever it takes to make sure you’re ok. Sometimes you may not understand it, but you need to be confident that she is doing what <b> <i> SHE </i> </b> feels is the best way.
Trust me when I say if she turns against you, you’re in for a bumpy ride. Even so, I’ll always have love in my heart for her and I’ll always love you!
Love,
Daddy
Letters to Ruby 