On November 12, 1997 my son Joey was just a mere 7 days old. Seems like forever ago. Seems like just yesterday.

In his baby sketch book on this day I wrote down some words. They weren’t intended to be formed into a poem, just some thoughts on paper reflecting what was going on at the time. 15 years later, I thought I’d share them with you.

I also documented an UNO game played at the hospital between us, my Brother John, my Sister-In-Law Diane, my other Brother Dan and my other Sister-In Law Linda. The final score from the game: Dad: 191, Uncle Dan: 209, Aunt Linda: 108, Mom: 102, Aunt Diane: 108, Uncle John: 156.

I also drew a quick sketch to show Linda the difference between a shotgun and a rifle. (These three thoughts in the sketch book are unrelated… but represent a moment in time early on in Joey’s life.)

November 12,

People do not operate
on the same logical level.
Things we think as rational or irrational
may be perfectly normal,
or even bizarre by others.

We must know that we will
never be able to change
one’s rational personality.

The sooner we learn this,
the happier life will be,
for we can try to understand
than to change.

It’s hard to believe just how relevant these words are to me 15 years later at the close of 2012. It’s hard to believe Joey is 15 now. When I was 15, I had a job as a stock clerk at Frank’s Nursery. I learned how to drive. Met Julie in High School, and lost my Father. Now Joey is 15 years old.

Seems like a lifetime ago that Joey was born. Yet it seems like just yesterday.