Dear Tobin,

This month has been mostly a fun one, with the events that typically occur this time of year. You’re someone who really loves tradition and special occasions, so the winter holiday season is a great time for you. Unfortunately, you caught one of the many bugs going around your school in the weeks before break, so you had to spend several days mostly in bed. It wasn’t COVID, though we’re not sure exactly what it was. We never took you in for an influenza test, although there was a lot of that going around the area. We got our flu shots a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving, so it’s possible that it was influenza tamped down by your vaccine-begotten immunity. You had a fever on and off for a couple of days, never to a scary-high level, but enough that it dragged you down. You had low energy and slept a lot and missed three days of school. You’re almost completely better now, with just a little lingering sludge and congestion.

For you, the biggest torture was the semi-isolation. I wanted to confine the illness to one person, because I was worried it would cascade through our whole family and derail our holiday travel plans. You did most of your eating in your room, and other family members masked up whenever we needed to go in there. Callum slept in my room for a few days, and your dad went down to the guest room. I went through a whole lot of disinfecting wipes on the doorknobs, faucets, toilet flushers, and light switches. You really, really dislike being anywhere other than in the middle of the action, and I felt very bad for you. You even seemed to take it as an insult that I wanted you to use different bathroom towels than the rest of us. Nevertheless, the techniques worked, because no one got as sick as you. We have some stuffy noses to varying degrees, but nothing serious or plan derailment-worthy.

You’ve always enjoyed being a helper in the kitchen, and your love of pizza-making has continued to grow. The Adam Ragusea pizza recipe is definitely a keeper, and I can see additional pizza tools being part of your future. Family Pizza Party Night is becoming a somewhat regular event. Considering your love of ritual, I don’t see that changing. You can even do the swift little jerk motion required to move the pizza from the peel to the hot stone (or steel, as I predict we’ll be using next time). That’s a move that takes confidence. Do it timidly and your pizza will crumple and maybe even dangle halfway off the cooking surface. That would be a disaster (for the pizza and for the person tasked with cleaning the oven later). Luckily, you’re a bold kid, and you aren’t afraid to jerk that pizza right into its place.

We had a predictably fun time going out to Wilson’s Orchard to pick out a Christmas tree. Of course, with you involved, there would be no skipping of the doughnuts and cider. Naturally, we had to decorate the tree immediately after we got home, sipping cider as we worked and listening to Bob Dylan sing “Must Be Santa Claus.” You get a big kick out of looking at all the ornaments, including your favorite little fox. You like to hide him somewhere in the tree so he’s peeking out at us. Largely out of pressure from you, I finally put some lights up on the house this year, too. I figured I’d better do it while I’m still young and spry enough to climb a ladder. The plastic clips that hold the lights in place probably aren’t intended to stay out year-round, but installing them was  the hardest part of the process. We might have to see if they can last two years at least.

You had your first elementary school band concert. I’ve gotten accustomed to the high level of musicianship that comes out of City High, so it was a bit startling to go back to the “Hot Crossed Buns” type of performance. It’s amazing how far players can go in just a few years. In fact, I remember Artemis’s first year of band and how much they improved between the fall and spring concerts. I am looking forward to watching you develop as a saxophonist. I was very proud sitting in the audience and watching you play onstage with your friends. You looked cute in your white dress shirt, too. When Art was in elementary school band, there was a stricter dress code than the current director requires. In a nod to past fanciness, I got out Art’s old band clothes and got them tidied up for you. I could tell who else in the band was going by the old rules, because you weren’t the only one in a smart oxford shirt.

Your current favorites: the Jurassic Park movies, both the original trilogy and the Jurassic World films; playing basement soccer with anyone who will join you (usually Callum); pizza, both restaurant-acquired and homemade; family cocktail hour, especially if it includes Sunkist Sparkling Strawberry Lemonade; board games and card games; spicy chips like Takis and Flamin’ Hot varieties of regular chips; wearing a fuzzy hooded sweatshirt; and showing up with great enthusiasm for almost anything. Even though your recent illness wasn’t terribly severe, seeing you motionless for long periods of time was disconcerting. I’m so glad you’re back to your bouncy, horn-tooting self. Your the sunshiniet, best kid ever. I love you so much.

Love,

Mom