Well, another Christmas without you and mum. Hope Pavlichka and Koshka are with you. I saw the new Godzilla movie, Godzilla Minus Zero, and I think you would like it. It is a very well-done psychological expose of how the Japanese were after WW II. I currently believe God gave us the means to end the war and save lives. If Germany or the Soviet Union had it before us, they would have used it to destroy lives. There are so few WW II vets left and enough time has passed that no one can remember history for the why and the ethical decisions made. We are living with a generation that could never walk in your steps as a teenager in the South Pacific Campaign or understand death and suffering the way you did and mum when she was a teenager serving in the Korean Conflict. I am very saddened at what happened to America and the generation that needs a safety pin and safe space to be in demonic delusion. I miss you both and my thoughts will be with you for another holiday season.

Dinner as usual. Happy Birthday. Mortimer and I miss you and think of you throughout the year.

I do not celebrate the day of departing this earth, only births. But this reminder came up in my email. I was at DLI and time has gone by faster than I remember. There is much talk of the movie Oppenheimer and I hope it brings attention to the Pacific Campaign and what you endured as a 19+-year-old fighting for our freedom in such a brutal war. We did not have any other solution and the Enola Gay and content ended much bloodshed. I hope the younger generations learn the truth of the time and do not forget what the decision was to save life from a brutal war where the enemy did intentionally murder civilians, including women and children during the course of fighting. See you soon and hope I have some good stories to share. Mortimer and I miss you.

Hello Little Father:

Happy Birthday! I am happy you are my dad. I am sorry I missed the steak, salad, and Manhattan dinner last year. But today, I will eat the celebratory and annual steak, salad with blue cheese, and drink a Manhattan. I bought a Seiko watch because I remember you liked those watches.

Hi Little Father:

I still see menus, matchbooks, and postcards from your dad's restaurant on eBay. I can hear your laugh and smile if you saw them.

I am happy you are my dad, I would pick you again and again and never even entertain the idea of different parents. You are still the best ever!

Happy Birthday. Last night for one of my discussions in the doctorate program, I shared information about the ethics behind nuclear weaponry and how I believe God let America have it first over Germany and the Soviet Union. I was telling my cohort how it actually saved future life and end the war in the South Pacific Campaign. I remember your stories and shared how you were there as a SeaBee. I am glad you are my father and I would pick you over and over again. I will see you again as I am joyous over all of us accepting Jesus as the savior that one day in the church. Chris and I will have dinner for you on Wednesday.

Every birthday since college, I have always made dinner for my father. Even though he is not here, I celebrate his birthday. I eat a t-bone steak, salad with blue cheese dressing, and I drink a Manhattan. Growing up, my father had Monday and Tuesday nights off work. One night it was spaghetti and salad with blue cheese dressing and the other night it was a t-bone with salad and blue cheese dressing for years. My father did not drink, but when he was in college at his fraternity gatherings, Manhattans were popular.

If God gave me a choice to pick any set of parents, I would always pick mine for all eternity. My parents were awesome, they are human with the frailties of a fallen world-but they were so cool. With respect to my parents, it is really easy to abide by that commandment.

See you later.

Valerie Theresa Boggio aka Morgan V Harrell, M.Ed.