Dear Van,

Your first outing wasn’t to the grocery store to pick up milk or eggs. It also wasn’t to your grandma’s and grandpa’s. Instead, it was to the tattoo shop. You may not have any recollection of it, but you were indeed there when your grandpa Niles got your name tattooed on his shoulder, right under your brother’s name. We joked before you were born that we were going to name you “Handsome Andrew” just so he’d have to have “Handsome Andrew” tattooed on his arm. I know, total jail bait. In any case, the other day you became legendary and joined an award winning array of other legendary tattoos… 

like the famous trout tattoo…

Or the Arizona flag tattoo…

And, of course, the “Hooper” tattoo…

I have to admit, I’m a little bummed we didn’t go with “Handsome Andrew”.

You will be inked on your Papa’s arm soon enough. Stay tuned.

I love you,

Mama