Get well soon

Two weeks ago in idle, rapid three-year-old conversation after dinner my daughter said we'd do something "after you get better." She looked me right in the eyes when she said it, to gauge my reaction.

Then last week when kissing me goodnight, she turned back and said: "Oh! I forgot. Get well soon."

The next night she hugged me with "Get well soon" and then said "Maybe we should send you a card that says 'I hope you get well soon.'"

Darling, I hope I will. And if you're reading this after I'm dead, let me just say that being father to you and your brother made me so proud and happy that anything else, even an inconvenient fatal affliction, shrinks to nothing in comparison.