January 30, 2026
Dear Sophia,
Catherine O’Hara just died. She was a comedic genius and by all accounts a wonderful person. She had many great roles but the longest-running and most iconic was as Moira in the TV series “Schitt’s Creek”. She was 71.
Presumably she had money, access to the best healthcare, and was much beloved.
And yet, just 71.
12 years older than I will soon be, I think, as I watch you sleep. I imagine you at 12, and myself at 71, or try to. And I think, what if I only had 12 more years with you?
That sort of thing is what drives me: to be the best dad I can, to leave you a record of yourself and me and your mom, from my perspective, even to make as much money as I can and invest it wisely.
I recently qualified for Northwestern Mutual life insurance, term and whole. After rejections by the outfit recommended by my wealth advisor, for absurd reasons, this was a pleasant surprise. Northwestern’s insurance costs a lot per month. But I decided to make that investment into your future, whether I die within 20 years from now (and you and mom get a payout) or I live longer (and there’s still some investment value). * * * “It’s so fulfilling to feed another human being with my body,” your mother says. “That is so cool.” It does seem pretty cool.
Love,
Dad
