Dear Baby

Carmine Antonio Manniello:

Born: August 19, 1963

Died: July 22, 2010

In 4th Grade, which was in 2006-07, my teacher gave us a time capsule project. To be opened when my child was in 4th grade, or in 2036. My parents both wrote a letter to this future child of mine.

Today, with only one parent, i was cleaning out my closet and room, organizing. But of course organizing means looking through all of your old forgotten things. i was just trying to take some books out and get a hurry on cleaning it instead of looking through everything. One of the books that I saw was time Capsule for Baby. The same book that came with the capsule from fourth grade. didn't think much of it.So i was reading through the other books in the pile, a little young for my age. I finished and saw the time capsule for baby book again. I opened it, and it came to me that my dad had written a letter to my future child in that. i tried to resist the temptation to open it. But I thought I deserved to see what he wrote.

I retrieved it from the top shelf, and opened it. I dumped everything out. At the bottom was the letter.

The things that I remember the best of it that speak the most to me are, " If I'm alive when you read this I hope our lives together will be plenty. If I'm not, well know that our love will be realized."

Here are some words to live by:

Always kiss your parents goodnight no matter how old you are.

 Spend time in the outdoors

What one man can do another can as well. (What one man can do another can do. We're gonna kill the bear!)

Never say can't, you can do anything.

No one loves you like your family.

Those are my favorite, I'm not gonna give the whole thing away. As tears filled my eyes, even though it was from grandpa and addressed to baby, I felt like this letter was not meant for my future child, but exclusively for me. These things I will share with my children. And it will live forever.What assures me of this,signed, Always, Carmine Antonio Manniello