notes

Garth Callaghan is 44 years old and has been diagnosed with cancer three times since November 2011. Prostate cancer once. Kidney cancer twice. Although he appears healthy today, statistics say he has an 8% chance of living past 5 years.

Since his daughter, Emma, has been in the second grade, he has written her a napkin note for each lunch he's packed. It may be a quote or a simple word of encouragement but it is a time when the two can connect.

Garth may die, but he will not let Emma eat lunch without a napkin note. His promise to her is to write one napkin note for every day of class Emma has until she graduates from high school.

A handwritten note expresses things in a way that texts and tweets just can't. Especially now, when kids and adults alike seem to be glued to their smartphones at all times, it's always nice when a child takes the time to actually put pen to paper.