Large Fierce Mammal

My dear and most honoured Friend Ryszard,

Wherever you are, I hope this letter finds you well and in good spirits. As always, and without further delay, let me express to you my undying gratitude for everything good that is in my life, as personified by Diana.

When last we spoke, damn but it’s hard to believe that was nearly two years ago, the glorious news that you are soon going to be a Grandfather for the second time was a long way from even being suspected. While I haven’t seen your Eagle spirit manifest yet this year, Diana has as recently as three days ago right outside our office window, and I have no doubt that it will make its presence known more often as that magickal August date approaches.

You once told me that you had heard we lived in a large house, and that if I ever hurt Diana, you would haunt that house. I feel safe in saying, after all these years, that I never have in the way you meant, nor have you in the way I take your meaning, but this hiding things now and then just for shits and giggles gets a little tiresome when we’re as busy as we are right now, and if you don’t mind, I would ask that you tone it down a notch, at least until October. We expect things like that around then.

We’ll know the sex our your new Grandchild next month, although I suspect you already do. I have also taken on the most honourable task of compiling, with Diana’s help, tales from your life as well as from that of my own Father, Lawrence Whynacht, so our baby can know you both insofar as is possible under the circumstances. I wish you two had met, but he had to leave long before you. He would have loved Diana, and too was a musician and a guitarist. Diana and I often speak of how wonderful it would be to host the two of you together by our fireside. Some day I will write a poem about that.

Kejimkujik Park will be reopening again soon after an ill advised winter closing for the first time since ever, and we will be sending you another nose full of your beloved Birch smoke then. We’re hoping your beloved Izabella will be there when it happens.

Until we speak again my Friend,

And if I may be so bold, your honoured Son,

Randy