Zach’s Letter to Eli
It’s great to have friends like this. Thank you, Zach, for this great letter! It was written the day Eli was born.
Nick
“So, Eli, what to say to you? We’re all very happy that you’ve arrived, although I’ve got to say you’ve given your parents and their friends a little bit of concern on your first day. We know you’ll get stronger and healthier though and we can’t tell you how much we look forward to watching you grow and being a part of your life. Assuming your parents don’t decide to move back to Michigan at some point I expect you’ll know us pretty well.
Amanda and I are having a baby in about three months, and since we live so close to your parents and you guys will be so close in age you guys will probably hang out a lot as babies and toddlers and we expect you guys will be lifelong friends. Her name is going to be Milly and, if everything goes the way Amanda’s planning, you’ll become my son-in-law one day. If that’s to happen I expect your parents will have raised you as a perfect gentleman. Milly will have some competition though, since we know probably a dozen people who are or recently were pregnant, and most of them were having girls so it’s entirely possible that you’ll have your pick of lots of cute girls.
For the record, Hannah Wicker was there at your birth. She was asleep for most of the time Amanda and I sat with her parents, Paul and Meagan, waiting on word of how you were doing, and I don’t think she actually saw you today, but she was there.
I also decided something earlier in the day. Since neither of your parents cares anything really for college basketball, I’ll do what I can to make you a Duke fan. I’ve already decided that, should you take an interest in it, I’ll take you and Milly to a game at Cameron Indoor Stadium when you guys are ten years old or so. Hopefully our legendary Coach K will still be there. Perhaps he’ll have recently retired and have been replaced by Jeff Capel or Johnny Dawkins. Maybe I’ll teach you how to surf too, unless your dad picks it up in the next few years. Then again, Paul would be a much better teacher.
Anyway, I just wanted to welcome you to the world, Eli, and to say that we’re really looking forward to being in your life and watching you grow and develop.”
Zach Dotsey
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