ou're growing up pretty fast now,
faster than I had imagined. You'll be 17 in a few months, and
before we know it, you'll be out there on your own with so many
choices to make.
You won't be taking trips with your folks as you have in the
past, although it would be nice if that happened once in a while.
On our family trips, we've only scratched the surface of what there
is to see -- and I hope you get to see as much of the world as you
can.
I've been a lot luckier than most people. Thirty-six years ago,
I fell into this job which has enabled me to see more of the world
than I ever dreamed possible.
My fondest wish is that you get to have these kinds of
adventures. Mainly, I hope you get the chance to travel when you're
young and healthy and have the time and energy to enjoy the
experiences.
You've seen something of our country but there's so much more to
see. I've missed about seven states myself but I'm working on
completing the list.
You know I'm a city person, so I particularly hope you see the
great cities of America. You were born in New York and we go there
often, but I hope you get to spend a lot of time in Boston,
Philadelphia, Washington, Miami, Chicago, New Orleans, Seattle, Los
Angeles and San Francisco. And those are just for openers.
Try to make time for Montreal, Quebec and Vancouver, and go
south to Mexico City and Acapulco and to Latin America. Rio de
Janeiro is beautiful beyond belief.
Spread your wings and fly. Fly to Sydney, that friendly and
invigorating place where you'll have a grand time. Don't miss the
incredible sights of Asia. Take a ride on a junk in Hong Kong
Harbor and buy something in an electronics store in Singapore. See
the Forbidden City in Beijing and the Great Wall of China.
If you're like your dad, you'll save a lot of time for Europe. I
can't get enough of it and I doubt you will, either. Hang out in
Leicester Square and see one play after another. Walk in the
Tuileries and sit in a cafe on the Champs Elysees and watch the
Parisian parade go by.
Go to your mother's ancestral homeland in Ireland and just hang
out with the people; they will take care of the rest. Have some
pasta in Italy, schnitzel in Austria and goulash in Hungary.
There's an old favorite song of mine that starts, "See the
Pyramids along the Nile." Well, do that, too -- they're
unforgettable.
Whatever else you do with your life, do these things; make it a
priority to see how big and diverse the world and its peoples are.
And enjoy every minute.
And oh, yes, please send postcards.