Photographs, notebooks of leaves, and memories of childhood wonder are poignant reminders of Mary''s needless encouragement, "Faster, daddy, faster."

Life moves much faster than we think, happy times pass quickly. It''s not a substitute for the passage of life, but satisfying to know that Mary and I enjoyed her early years as the good old days worth remembering in a little book. All the days were important and there will continue to be good days but none will be more engaging for Mary and me than those that brought her initial start in life.