Five Years Ago

On December 16, 2002, Daddy wrote these words in The Sammy Journal:

When I saw the portable play-pen that someone bought for you, it made me realize how excited I am to have you on the outside with us. Hurry up in there, will ya! Oh.. and another thing... As long as you are still in there, how's about you give me a kick in the chin when you hear my voice, hey? Thay's all I ask.

I'm glad you are going to have so many cousins and friends your age so close to you. You have 4 other cousins, but they all live out in B.C. Their names are Vanessa, Amanda, Marissa and Taylor and -- you guessed it! -- they're all girls. It's too bad that all my family lives so far away, but you will have plenty of lovin' from the Arnold side of the family, I'm sure.

I look foward to spending time on the benches or in the audience watching you with all the other parents while you play or do whatever sport or hobby or interest you choose to pursue. I love you Sammy. I look forward to holding you.

Love, daddy

Now, five years later, Jeremy is spending the weekend with his brother (it's been 3 years!) and will see Vanessa, who lives in Alberta now, too. And the full Arnold clan is in Innisfil enjoying an early Christmas celebration. We planned to make the trip yesterday morning, but called it off when the storm watch went into effect ("road travel will be next to impossible"). So, Sam and I have built a tent fort in the dining room, and we're hunkering down there for the duration—loved and missed by family, but, for the day at least, "secret agents" who've given all that up for the good of the country...