A dad reflects

Hello to one and all. I'm sure you would have read my wife's post by now so I thought I'll add my thoughts about it as well. As fun and exciting the last couple of months have been and I'm sure the coming years will be, today signifies what this blog is all about. It is nothing short of an "adventure" that Katriana has embarked on which will be filled with surprises both good and bad. She is on her way and she needs to draw a lesson from two native animals here, the Kangaroo and the Emu. Both these animals are not able to walk backwards, hence they embrace the Australian national emblem. I would now like to share something that my mother showed me many years ago and I today retrieved which is quite fitting of today.

Let him(her) learn early that
the bullies are the easiest to lick...
Teach him(her) if you can,
the wonders of books...
But also give him(her) quiet time
to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky,
bees in the sun,
and the flowers on a green hillside.

Teach him(her) there is no shame in tears,
Teach him(her) to scoff at cynics
and to beware of too much sweetness...
Teach him(her) to sell his(her) brawn,
and brain to the highest bidders
but never put a price-tag
on his(her) heart and soul.

This is a big order,
but see what you can do...
He(she) is such a fine child
my son (MY DAUGHTER)!!!
-excerpts from Abraham Lincoln's letter to his son's teacher.

Well until I find the time to write again, cheers from "Marvellous Melbourne"