Opening scene - fade in from black...

December 3, 2008

Your father and mother had moved from Boston a few years prior to this day and had a big house outside of Atlanta and were successfully working.  They loved the life Atlanta had to offer not to mention the lack of cold winters that Boston often had.  They were young, in love, successful and happy. 

You’ll hear in life that happiness may be a state of mind.  It’s an emotion that you create to stimulate your mind and feelings.  Sometimes you just are happy for no reason and sometimes you can’t find happiness if it were sitting on your lap.

I was still in bed when the first call happened.  His voice was more grumbled than usual, his tone was hush and it sounded like each word had a strain as they were pronounced.  “I have a son” he said.  No more words.  That was it. 

Later in the day he gave me another call, we spoke for a few minutes.  He said you were in good health, described your name and how it stood for “from love”, then we joked a few and after the congratulatory message, the call ended.  Amias was now part of the world.  Your parent’s world, your immediate family’s world…my world.

As you get older you’ll do things that your parents or even I won’t agree with.  You’ll get lucky and survive a few shortcuts and think you have the world figured out.  You’ll say regrettable things and even do a few things you would rather not remember.  But realize that none of the good or bad would compare to the pure joy you brought your parents and others on this day.  “From love” is what you came from and was properly named after.  No one will ever ask you to grow up to be a Saint or perfect.  But remember that on this day in 2008, for a brief moment, the Earth stood still for two people.  They experienced a joy unlike no other.  They committed themselves and their lives to protect, nurture and provide for this joy.  For it was from love that you came into this world and it is with love from your parents and others that will guide and shape you into the man you will become.  Whenever times get tough, remember that from love nothing can go wrong, you will be reminded every day of your life of this, for it is in your blood and your name.