13th Birthday Letter to Alex Magnusson

November 5th 2017

Hi Champ,
Here we are, your 13th Birthday.
This is the third one in a row that we don’t spend together, and I feel so sad about it.
You were my everything and everything is gone now.
For nine years, the 5th of November has been one of my preferred days, with Christmas. It was always so much fun to organize for it and to see you so exited each time, enjoying your day, blowing the candles, opening your presents. I had to say that Easter was pretty funny too, looking for the Easter Eggs throughout the house or running around on the grass at Bighorn getting as much eggs as you could! Halloween was pretty funny too… Let’s say that we had quite a lot of funny days throughout the year, but your Birthday and Christmas were on top of the list. And I remember pretty much all of them.
Many at Kiki’s house, One at “il fornaio” in Beverly Hills with Charmian, Chrissie and Peter, when you turned five, we did it in school at the Lycee francais the same year too, two or three in Malibu, one at the small outdoor commercial center when you turned two, and another at “Paradise Cove” for your six years maybe. (The same “Paradise Cove” were you potty at the end of the peer a few years before!!).
I remember your 4th Bday, at Disneyland, we had fun but you refused to take a picture with Mickey, you were to scared!!
What about your 7th Bday with Summer in Montecito? And your 8th at the laser place in Sherman Oaks? Fun too.
So many great memories…
I miss you so much Champ. All these years as your dad have been by far my best ones.
I just hope that you are doing well. How is that to be homeschooled? It seems pretty cool when you think about. Too bad that I’m not here to help you in Math! Or you probably doesn’t need my help anymore. I’m sure you remember what I called the basic rules, even if very simple, but essential for resolving the big equations that you are probably doing now. I still would have liked to come back in the years and challenge you in Math!!
What about the languages? Your French should be pretty good, Swedish and English. Did you start Chinese as we were talking about?
What about your tennis? You were so good, and I really hope you started to play again. I’m practicing too, because I know that one day, we’ll play again together, and I want to be able to send you some balls back! I will!
Golf? You were better than me the last times we played, so I guess I’ll get no chances there!
You started to be quite good in Ski too. I hope you got some chances to go skiing. I believe I will always beat you in that! I just got much more practice!! Leave me that at least!
Soccer? Being often in Europe, you probably practice that too.
All these questions…. I know, but I have been so involved in your life for you first ten years that I just would like to know everything about you even now.
It’s so tough you know, if only we could talk sometimes…..
I don’t want to be too long, so Happy 13th Birthday and I wish you all the best. I always did.
Your dad, Patrick.