Dear William, Daniel, Catherine, Michael, and Sarah, (and your parents), (and any future descendants and their parents),

Happy New Year!

I have been thinking about you, so I decided to spend some time with you via this letter. Today is the first day of the new year — it also the first day of the rest of our lives.

Babcia Krysia and I spent the afternoon taking a drive — we went to Sandy Hook Beach. Going on a drive is something the two of us enjoyed doing together — throughout our marriage, often we would hop in the car, randomly choose a direction (North, South, East or West), and off we went.

Today, Babcia Krysia suggested South East — and so we went. Along the way, we stopped at several beach towns that we never go to during the Summer — just to check them out. We were pleasantly surprised by Atlantic Highlands — it had several restaurants, and the downtown looked like a lively place — we will have to do a more detailed investigative study of this location soon.

While driving, Babcia Krysia and I spoke about our children — Mark, Richard & Margaret — how very proud we are of each of them; how they each grew up to be good people, dealing with life as best as they can; and raising THEIR children — William, Catherine & Sarah, and Daniel & Michael — to be good people also.

We are disappointed that we do not get to see William as often as we want; but thanks to Skype, we keep in touch, and we got to know each other. What will William become? What choices will he make? What opportunities will he take? How will he overcome the obstacles that fate will throw his way?

Then we spoke about Kasia and Sarah — we asked the same questions as for William, and we speculated with equal excitement; and we also thought about how will they treat each other in life — will they be good sisters to each other? Will they stay close to each other? Will they help each other?

Of course, ALL those questions applied equally to Daniel and Michael — will they be good brothers? Helping each other in life’s struggles, and prod each other on to be the best persons they can be?

Then we thought of all of you as a group — the “cousins”! Will you keep in touch with each other? Will you help each other? We certainly hope so — family is a very important concept; and we are all FAMILY! Babcia Krysia and I love each and every one of you. We are very proud of OUR children; and we are also very proud of our grandchildren.

Remember, EACH day is the FIRST day of the rest of your lives — no matter what happened before, each day gives you a new opportunity to better yourself; and new opportunity to do and be good; and a new opportunity to help someone else. Take these opportunities seriously and with much vigor. And for any failings you may experience, apologize if you hurt someone else, get up, dust yourself off, and then, be and do good.

Love,

Dziadziuś Paweł.

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