Dear Joseph and Lucia,

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had every intention of writing you another letter just to put it off for some reason or another.  I tell myself that there’s really nothing of interest to tell you about.  And yet, I still have conversations with you guys in my head every day.  Silly, I know.

Last weekend was a fun time.  Michele got us tickets to see Fleetwood Mac playing in Austin as a birthday present.  Of course my birthday was last May and I’ve had to wait until last weekend, but it was worth it.  We got a room at a hotel downtown and made a little vacation of it. The concert was wonderful.  They played all the songs I know from my youth and we just sang along all evening.  The audience was quite the mix of generations and people.  It’s interesting to see how many people have been touched by their music.  And walking to and from the venue along the streets of Austin was a great throwback to my early days when I was young and just setting out on my own.

We also spent some time hanging out with some friends. I knew Andrea from high school in Caldwell.  She and her husband, Jim, had us over to their house and we all went out for Pho.  I love Vietnamese noodle.  On Sunday, I took them out to where I work for a personal tour. We got lucky with our timing and happened to watch a ground breaking engine test.  We’re testing our new engine (Raptor) and Sunday afternoon was the last test before shipping it down to South Texas to get put on the hopper for flying.  It’s really hard to describe how impressive it is to hear an engine test in person.  It’s like a solid wall of sound permeates every cell in your body.  I’m so glad Michele finally got to see one in person.  I take it for granted that just outside my office window an engine roars to life a couple times every day.

I’ve told you guys before that I watch the activity here and where people are reading this.  So, it goes without saying that I’m really hoping that whoever it is in the Tyler area, you are a friend of Joseph at college.  Perhaps you are wondering about some of the stories and wanted to know for yourself.  If you are reading this and are a friend of either Joseph or Lucia, please know I love them both dearly and never want to do anything that would hurt them.  I put these letters in public since it’s the only way that is left to me to reach out to them.  My goal is simple… I would very much like to talk to them and let them know the whole story.  It’s very difficult to know that my children hate me and fear me.  It’s even harder since I know there’s another side to the whole story that could spare them that fear and anger. The heart break isn’t necessary.

Until I hear from them, I will continue to wait.  I will continue to push myself to write these letters despite my own pain.  I will continue to work hard to be a father they can turn to eventually.  I will always seek for truth, beauty and love in all things.  Even in this waiting there is value.  If you know my children, love them. They are both special. I know.

Love,
Dad