Dear Max,

Know the difference between truth and fantasy. Know what you’re searching for before you look. Know what the real you thinks. 

Be a friend to yourself. 

To do so, be alone with yourself and be truthful. Find your independence. Only when you know your true self will you feel at one with the world. 

Love,

Dad

PS: When I go to a new place, a party where I don’t know anyone or a new country, I feel like I’ve been before. I feel comfortable because I know myself and I like myself. I realized this when your mom and I were walking in a square in Florence.

Grandma Mary and I making Pierogi, circa 1990

Dear Max,

My Grandma Mary was the best at making pierogi, the Polish meal of potato- and cheese-stuffed doughy goodness. Whenever we wanted to best polish meal we asked my Grandma Mary because no store or restaurant could match. There was even one time when my mom bought frozen pierogi and tried to pass them off to us but we knew the difference, even at a young age. We quickly called Grandma to “get mom in trouble.” The next time we went over her house, she had a whole batch of pierogi on the table just for us.

To this day I compare every Polish meal to that of my Grandma Mary. I tell you this because she was the best at it. Everybody has things or people in their mind that they default to when they want the best.

When you decide what you want to do for work later in life ask yourself this: What is one thing that I love that I could be the best at? Once you figure that out, put in the hard work, put in the time and put in the patience to do and be the absolute best. You’ll create a following for yourself. My Grandma’s goal was being the best at taking care of her family, and she was.

Love,

Daddy

Dear Max,

I always over thought situations when I was younger on dating girls. Some of my reasons are still valid to me but most of the time I avoided asking the question.

When we were in high school your mother and I both had a crush on each other. She was waiting for me to ask her out and I was too scared to. Luckily for us, we reconnected a few years later on MySpace and I redeemed myself. The Internet and social networks have boosted everyone’s confidence but we never had that in high school.

I was lucky when it came to your mom.  Although it is hard to think about that fact that it almost never happened. My advice to you is just simply ask her out – whoever ‘her’ is. And, if she’s not the one, you can just move on quicker.

Love,

Daddy

My Dad and I in Florida, circa 1990.

Dear Max,

Yesterday was the six month anniversary of Grandpa’s first visit to God. Because of that, I wanted to give you a piece of advice that he lived by. My Dad firmly believed in helping others as much as possible.

If you needed a few bucks for gas or food how would give it to you, no matter who you were. If your car was stuck in the snow he would help you push it out. If their was no umpire, he would call the ball game. If you didn’t have a job he would find you one. If you were in jail, he would bail you out – no this isn’t referring to me. I can’t think of one situation that he didn’t help someone with.

‘Always lend a hand’ was his motto. He was never too busy. He believed that good things happen to good people, and I believe that too.

Love,

Daddy

Dear Max,

Once you are on your own in the real world – pretty much college and beyond – you will encounter some harsh realities. How you treat yourself will reflect how you teach others to treat you. You will realize that nobody else, other than your family, will help you unless you help yourself.

Nobody else will:

• Motivate you
• Wake you up
• Challenge you to do better
• Help get your work done on time
• Help you up
• Tell you how to get ahead
• Warn you not to go down the wrong path
• Give you money when you’re hungry
• Put clothes on your back
• Provide for your family
• Watch out for your reputation

Will you? I think you know the answer to this by now. Call me if you ever need a reminder.

Love,

Dad

Dear Max,

If you can’t say something nice, don’t say it at all.

Simple. Easy. The right choice every single time.

Love,

Daddy

Grandma Iva and I, Circa 2005

Dear Max,

Singing is such a great experience. It allows you to express yourself in one of the purest ways possible.

Growing up, Grandma Iva had a song for everything. She would sing “the rooster says good morning to you” in the morning every time we would come for breakfast. For swimming, for cleaning, for eating or anything else you could think of, she would sing something.

I’m not going to lie to you and tell you she had the most beautiful voice because she didn’t. But, she knew that. What I will tell you is that it always made us happy. It always made us smile. It always brought us together.

Singing to those you love makes them happy. Grandma Iva knew that. That’s why Mom and I sing to you to this day. Anytime you have the chance, sing a song to someone. It will change their day, and yours.

Love,

Daddy

My dad and his 1957 Chevy, circa 2010

Dear Max,

I’ve loved cars ever since I can remember. My dad always claimed my first word was “Vroom.” I was going to classic car shows with my mom and dad before I could walk. It was and is part of me.

Today is the Detroit Autorama. It is the car show to end all classic car shows. For me, going to Autorama about carrying on a tradition of something my father and I used to do together. Cars have been a bonding platform for Dads and their children for generations.

I was always enthralled at listening to my dad’s stories and seeing all the pictures of his past cars or seeing the process of ones he worked on with me around. That time was so special to me.

We had our regular cruise nights we liked to go to. We had the music that went with the cars. We had the burgers and fries and the “man talks.” We had fun.

My dad and I at a minimum would make sure we went to Autorama every year. Here’s to year one with you.

Love,

Dad

Dear Max,

Nobody has it all figured out. It sounds pessimistic but it is such a positive thing to know.

Sometimes we look at others and aspire to be them, to know what they know and to do what they do. That’s not healthy. You can learn from them but they don’t know what you know. They’re not you, and there’s only one you.

Each person has a different path. You don’t have to have everything figured out. You just have to know how to find and derive information from the world. You’ll figure out most of it, eventually. Besides, the only one who is supposed to know everything is God.

Love,

Daddy

Dear Max,

Start a blog. This one if simple but it takes a good amount of patience, passion and persistence.

Blogging shows the world what you are passionate about. When I was looking to transition careers I started a marketing and advertising blog to show my knowledge and passion for the industry. When you were just a few months old I realized I wanted to write to you daily. I’m passionate about the fact that I want you to have a piece of me long after I’m gone.

Find what your passion is and tell the world about it. Blogging may be a free resource but it is very influential. It may land you your dream job one day.

Love,

Daddy

PS: You fed yourself a piece of cereal for the first time last night!