Disclaimer: The characters are not mine; they are the pawns of Sorkin and Wells.

Rating: PG

A/N: This piece was inspired in part by Chai's excellent fic, Buying Time, as well as the movie My Life. I was watching it today (unfortunate mustache, but at least BW plays an actual, you know, human being). Anyway, Michael Keaton's character is dying of cancer, so he makes these videotapes for his as yet unborn son to watch as he is growing up, about different things. It just got me to thinking, what would Josh do in the same situation? There may have been a similar fic to this in GCCA earlier; I can't remember. This just came to me and I thought I'd write it.

Fourth in a series of letters beginning with 25 Things to Live By

For those of you who wanted a happier resolution to this, I will be doing an alternate plot once I get finished with this particular avenue.

I'm sending this out unbeta'd, so let me know what you think!

This was inspired by the song "He Gets That From Me" by Reba McIntire that Lauren posted about. It just seemed to go along so well in the vein of 25 Things. I highly suggest you watch the video at the link Lauren provided.

Feedback: Always a plus. I have a chem. test tomorrow. Make it all better!

Dear JJ,

Well. Graduation day, and Berkeley awaits. I find myself wondering what your father would have said to you today. Knowing Josh, something snide, first of all. He loved poking at people. But he also loved people. I have no doubt he would have said something perfect, something that I, for all my rhetoric and sweeping language, could never express as eloquently as he. Josh always spoke from his heart, when things were important; he never needed a script, and his words were the more poignant and fitting for it. You have that quality, too. I know you dislike being compared with your father, which I of all people can certainly understand. But in this area, as well as many others, prize the fact that you come from as fine a man as Joshua Lyman.

It is not my place to speak for your father, or as your father. I couldn't, and will never try to do so. But I am proud to be your godfather, proud to be someone who you look to for guidance. I will always be here.

All I can say, JJ, is blaze new trails. Your own trails. Create your own legacy, and enjoy it.

Good going, kid.

Toby

PS: The Mets still suck, though.