classic book and a Christmas gift

My little brother's favorite book growing up was Where the Wild Things Are.

His most requested bedtime book, he would usually "read" it to us instead of the other way around, reciting it perfectly from memory with intonations in all the right places.

Sent to bed without his supper, Max embarked on an adventure, arriving at the place where the wild things are. I can't think of many things more adorable than a three-year-old who can't say his R's properly quoting the part where the wild things "woared their tewible woars, and gnashed their tewible teeth, and wolled their tewible eyes and showed their tewible claws." But Max kept his cool and soon was made king of all wild things.

"And now," cried Max, "let the wild rumpus start!"He took poetic license with the blank pages after the wild rumpus began, chanting, "rumpus, rumpus, rumpus, rumpus..." as he turned the pages.

My little brother grew up and got married this summer.

On the brink of the grand adventure of marriage, trying so hard to be grown up, but really not any more grown up than before you came to that point. I think of Max. In the midst of the wild rumpus, he cried "Now stop!" and sent the wild things off to bed without their supper. Funny the things we do that we think make us grown up.

"[But] Max, the king of all wild things was lonely and wanted to be where someone loved him best of all... so he gave up being king of where the wild things." And upon returning to the night of his very own room, he found his mother had relented and brought him his dinner after all.

Sometimes the grand adventure of life is grandest of all when we give to and accept simple kindnesses from those we love most.

Geoffrey, hold on to the best childlike qualities as you embark on your life as a grown up with your beautiful wife. I hope this drawing reminds you to be eager to learn, trusting, loving without holding back, excited for the simple things in life, and willing to compromise and share (with only a reminder or two).