Dear David Patrick;
Today, May 31, 2011, is your second birthday. You were born in Phoenix, AZ at Banner Good Sam Hospital to your parents Lindsey Fay Myers and David Castro a couple of years ago and now we all live in El Mirage. The last two-years have been a blur. You’re growing up more and more and each day you never cease to surprise us with what you are learning.

Besides the gifts that we all got you, and you seem to like the tool kit and Dinosaur train toys, I wanted to let you know what world you were born into in 2009. What people were watching and of course who were the great teams from your birth year. I also included the birthday that you share with many famous folks.

You make me a better a person and I have no idea what my life would be like without you. Without further adieu the important things that have happened on your birthday, May 31st.

• May 31 is the 151st day of the year (152nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 214 days remaining until the end of the year.
• 1929 – The first talking cartoon of Mickey Mouse, “The Karnival Kid”, is released.
• 1990 –  Seinfeld premiers
• 2005 – Vanity Fair reveals that Mark Felt was Deep Throat.
• 1930 – Clint Eastwood, American film director and actor is born
• 1938 – Johnny Paycheck, American singer is born
• 1943 – Joe Namath, American football player is born
• 1948 – John Bonham, British musician (Led Zeppelin) is born
• 1964 – Darryl McDaniels, American musician (Run-D.M.C.) is born
• World No Tobacco Day (International) is also May 31
From the year you were born the 2009 Champions
• World Series Champions – New York Yankees
• Stanley Cup Champions – Chicago Blackhawks
• Super Bowl Champions – New Orleans Saints
• NBA Champions – Los Angeles Lakers
• BCS – Florida Gators
• NCAA Basketball – North Carolina

Top Ten Grossing Movies from 2009
1. Avatar
2. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
3. Ice Age
4. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
5. 2012
6. Up
7. Twilight: New Moon
8.Sherlock Holmes
9. Angels & Demons
10. The Hangover

For all intents and purposes I should be a Chicago Blackhawks fan, or at least a San Jose Sharks follower. I was born in Illinois and I was raised in northern California but I am not a fan of either franchise. For somewhat convoluted reasons I am a Montreal Canadiens fan. Which is odd since I have no ties to Quebec, I can’t speak French and my only trips to Canada got me as far east as Alberta. But alas, I like the Habs and I am thinking of turning my son into a Habs fan too.

I covered this topic in depth in a prior post but now my Dad wants his only grandson to embrace the Blackhawks. Like my Dad I have Chicago roots too but unlike him I am not a ‘Hawks fan. My Dad makes a strong case for the ‘Hawks and he may have stopped my impending Habs propaganda fest on my young namesake. A recent email from my Dad is making me think twice about having my namesake turn into yet another Habs fan:

You have to let Junior know that his roots on his father’s side are from Chicago. So, I know you are not a ‘Hawks fan but Junior can always say, “My grandpa was from Chicago that is why I am a Hawks fan.” You do what you feel is correct. When he gets of age, he will do what he wants.

As of today my son is 19-months old and has no concept of hockey and has never been to a game. He is a Phoenix native and would likely root for the local squad, the Phoenix Coyotes, if he becomes a hockey fan. I’d like to think that I can have some type of influence over my son but like my Dad mentioned DPC2 will likely root for his team, as opposed to the squads that are favored by his dad and grandfather.

In my family I am the only non Blackhawks fan. My family has roots in Chicago and they have all embraced the ‘Hawks since the days of Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita and Chico Maki. It seems proper that the last Castro male would become a Chicago Blackhawks fan and I think I am going to use whatever influence I may have to cement the issue. Yes, my son is 19-months old and has no concept of ice hockey or Tony Esposito but with the proper guidance from his family he can become a Blackhawks fan.