Dear James, Your grandmother and I were at the airport in Zurich recently after a two-week trip that included hiking in Scotland, a visit in Switzerland, and spending some time in Bavaria to attend The Passion Play in Oberammergau.  And as I sat in the lounge at the Zurich Airport Hilton on the eve before our return to the United States, I slid my right hand into my pocket and felt the Euros I had not spent. So, I thought what should I do with these extra 35 Euros burning a hole in my pocket? But the question quickly faded. But it would return as I watched our server hustling…

Dear James, Seventeen years ago, when Grandma Gizzy and I first purchased the land that would eventually become Gleneagles, we decided that we wanted to transform this beautiful, wooded lot into a place that our three sons would love and cherish – a place that they would want to share with their friends, and eventually, a place that they would want to return to with their families. Based on the number of times our boys have brought their high school and college friends here, we think we have succeeded. But none of those visits compare to the visit we recently experienced from you and your parents this past week. Quite…

James, It’s July 9th, 2022 and your dad is leaving Boston today to spend two weeks with Jack, Carter and Papa J in Great Britain. The last time the Franklin men took a trip together was in 2019, when we all travelled to San Francisco and the wine valleys, a trip we all loved. Your grandma Gizzy will be taking care of you in Boston for the next two weeks while your dad is away with his dad and brothers. And she is so happy to spend two weeks with you and your mom, who is also looking forward to Gizzy’s stay. The Franklin men will land in London early Sunday…

A Letter and Poem written for my grandson James - inspired by a recent Duke/Carolina game and the 2014 ACC Basketball Tournament.