Feb 16, 2004

Dear Brieanna,

This has been the snowiest winter in years. We've had a draught here in Utah for the last 5 or so years, and so we've gotten very little snow. This year we have snow piled up to our eyes. When I shovel I have to throw the snow up 5 feet, and hardly have room to put it anywhere. We're grateful for the snow, and hope that it means that there's an end to the draught. Our water levels were getting so low that we've been worried that they would have to ration it.

We celebrated Valentine's Day as a family by going out to an Indian food restaurant. We love spicy curies. If you get a chance you should try it out, I think you will like it. I would think that there would be a lot of good Indian food restaurants in Canada, since it has such close ties to the British empire. Melanie got me a box of See's candies, and they were good.

Noelle is starting to be potty trained. I bought her some under pants and so now she doesn't want to wear a diaper. Unfortunately, she still makes a lot of mistakes, and hasn't quite figured out the toilet. Potty training is a big milestone because it makes everything so much easier as a parent. Noelle is very different than you were as a child. She's very loud and bossy, and mischievous, and she gets into everything. She just runs around the house, messing up everything. Despite the work she causes us, she is very sweet and cute.

I imagine her as a lawyer when she grows up. I think Asher will be involved in a scientific or medical pursuit. I think Seth will be involved in business. With you I'm still unsure what career path you will choose. You have many talents and qualities, so it may be hard for you to settle on one thing. I know ever since I was little that I would be an engineer and a business person.

The way to choose what you will do as a career, is to figure out what you are most interested in, and then figure out a way to make money doing what you want to do.

Our favorite program right now is "The Apprentice" with Donald Trump. We just love it, because the tasks that the candidates are given are really interesting.

Asher is a cub scout now, since he turned eight. He's so big now. It surprises me when I think about it. He was just a little baby toddler who could barely talk when you were taken from us.

That's all for now. I love you Brieanna. Always remember to choose the right. Be honest, and kind, and forgiving. Keep the right friends, and don't let your friends lead you onto the wrong path. Stay away from drugs and alcohol, and don't get serious with boys. Study hard and try to get good grades. Never use coarse language or profanity. Stay away from R rated movies. You have my name Brieanna Gunsay, even if your mother has attempted to change it to Petit or Pettit. Someday when we meet, I'll ask you what you have done with my name.

You made me think of some more advice - Even when you are married, it is wise to keep your maiden name in your career. At home or around your husband you can be know by his name, but it is a great advantage to use your maiden name in your business. Your name is like a trade mark or a brand. In business, people will know you by your name. If you ever suffer a divorce or are widowed and remarried, your name will change and you will lose all of the effort and work that has gone into your name. For example, my mother was know as Linda Stevens in her art business for 25 years. When she divorced, she reverted back to her maiden name, even though everyone knew her by the other name, and so her reputation was diminished. If she had just kept the name Linda Moyer as her professional name there would have been no loss in continuity. You can still take upon you your husbands name as a family name for you and your children. Having a professional name protects you from people who would do mischief to you and gives you privacy, if they knew your married name. Most actors have a stage name which everyone knows them by, and their real legal name. Since most people don't know their true legal name, it affords them a degree of privacy. It will be a shield to you to have two separate names for the two aspects of your life. The other advantage to the Gunsay name is that it is very unique. Unlike a name like Smith or Jones, only a few people in the world have this name. This will be a great advantage to you, and it will make you stand out.

Love,

Dad.