[carlo3b]

 
I went to the airport today to drop off my teenage son... just as I have done so often... He is growing up so fast, I had to smile as he blushed when I hugged and kissed him and said.. "I LOVE YOU MY BOY"
.. I don't care, he can puke for all I care..ha!.. it's the price he has to pay for having an old Italian dad..

He gathered up his luggage and hurried down the long concourse.. and before he was completely gone from sight, he stopped and turned, and a weak smile came across that beautiful face. He waved once more and his mouth whispered "I LOVE YOU DAD"..and I thought I saw a tear in his eye. I can't be sure, because my eyes were tearing....

It is only for a weekend, but.. for just an instance ....  Dear God bring him home safely...

[sakic]

Don't know you a bit but it sounds like your son hit the jackpot being lucky enough to have you as his father.

That is why he will be just fine no matter what life serves him up.

[txhurl]

My family is Italian - Favazza. From Memphis.

In 1967, when I was 1, my paw-paw and nanny sent their only son off to the Drake Relays in Ohio. My uncle Mike ran the mile relay and the whole track/field team from LSU went.

On the way back, the pilot had a heart attack and ditched the plane, killing everyone on board.

Mike traveled often so there was no unusual 'I love you's.

Never fail to treat a moment as though it could be the last. My nanny was in Acapulco when the plane crashed; that's how 'sure' she was everything was OK.

[xJones]

It is hard when they grow up, Carlo. They'll always be your bunnies, but they have to move on. The only thing at this point is to look forward to your grandkids, and having raising your kids right, you should have some very interesting little chefs in the future!

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Good reminder, Carlo...may God watch over your boy.

[PGalt]

Good advice.

condolences

[McGavin999]

We love you too carlo :o)

[MozartLover]

Two of my children are moving into their own apartments next week.

The other one has joined the Nat'l. Guard and will be leaving for basic training in Nov.

You can bet I am cherishing these last few days of having the whole "gang" around..........

[tet68]

Ya got to love while you can, there's a war on.

[tubebender]

I was a teenager when Hank came out with that song and put many a dine in the Juke Box at the soda fountain in the little town of San Joaquin Ca.

A few years ago my wife made me read Leo Bascalias early books and since that day I do not hesitate to tell family and close friends that I love them. You sound like a Bascalia kind of guy :-)

[SierraWasp]

"Dear God bring him home safely..."

So be it... brother carlo... Amen!!!

[petuniasevan]

Awesome. Thanks for sharing!

[ladyinred]

What a great post Carlo! You are so right, we do tend to take those we love for granted, as if they will always be there. I am so happy that the very last thing I said to my Dad was "I love you". He died the next morning, so I am so thankful I did that!

Big ole kiss back at ya Carlo!

[rockfish59]

Lewis 'Chesty' Puller was the toughest Marine ever.
Reading his biography 'Marine' he writes some of the most loving letters to his wife.

I lost my brother Mick on August 3rd. He was 55.
We lived far apart and I hadn't seen him in 4 years.
Now I think about him a lot and all the stuff we used to do as kids and adults.

Hope you're in a better place, Mick!

[mrtysmm]

I love you too....and all you freepers. I'm fairly new here but I get the feeling of belonging to a family....and the feeling is good. May tomorrow be better than today for all of us.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

It is very hard being a Curmudgeon with people like you around.

God Bless and yours.

[Petronski]

Yes sir, you want to tell them while they're still there to hear you. I bet your son will remember your farewell today for as long as he lives, long after you and I are both gone. That's a pretty neat gift.

[Wolfstar]

Carlo3b, your sentiments regarding your son are so wonderful. Hopefully, he's not too young to appreciate how much you love him. And I also pray for his safe return to you.

I know the other side of life. Know what it is to be alone in the world and to have no one care about you. No one to turn to when those inevitable tough times come around. So your post is especially moving to me.

By the way, I'm half Italian, and my dad was born in Italy.

[Humidston]

Carlo, you are so precious! I hope to meet you in person some day soon. Your son is blessed...

[Lucy Lake]

"If Tomorrow Never Comes"

If I knew it would be the last time
that I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time
that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
so I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time,
I could spare an extra minute or two
to stop and say "I love you,"
instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.

If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow
to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance
to make everything right.

There will always be another day
to say our "I love you's",
And certainly there's another chance
to say our "Anything I can do's?"

But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you
and I hope we never forget,

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight..

So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you'll surely regret the day,

That you didn't take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today,
whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
and that you'll always hold them dear,

Take time to say "I'm sorry,"
"please forgive me,"
"thank you" or "it's okay".
And if tomorrow never comes,
you'll have no regrets about today

~anonymous~

[Common Tator]

Thank you Carlo3b

If was on a Labor Day weekend so many years ago that I stood on an outdoor stage in the public park and sang "Have I told you lately that I love you" to the prettiest young lady I had ever seen. She had a front row seat and I could look at no one else. The lead guitar player knew her and on the break took me down and introduced me. It took a long time but finally she became Mrs. Tator and each year on our anniversary I sang that song to her anew. It never lost its appeal to her or me. She has passed this life... but the memories of "Have I told you lately that I Love you." are pleasant to recall. Thanks for bringing back great memories to me.

I know what it is like to have a child uneasy with displays of love and affection. But one of the most intelligent things my Dad ever said was, "When you are lying on your death bed you will NOT be thinking, If only I had spent less time with my family and more time making money and gaining power?"

Mark Twain had an amusing statement on the relationships between fathers and sons. Mark left home at 18. When he left he thought his Dad was the dumbest man that existed on the face of the earth. But when Mark came back home just 3 years later, he said he was surprised to find out how much his Dad had learned in just 3 short years.

Young men judge themselves by the measure of their Dad. And as they reach maturity they try to challenge their Father. That is very hurtful to fathers. Once a young man has gotten out on his own and found his place in the world, the relationship between fathers and sons much improve.

I can say this through the perspective of a few years, a man's accomplishments mean a lot to him, but his sons accomplishments bring even more satisfaction.

Enjoy your son. In a few years the bond between you will grow by leaps and bounds as you both transition from father and dependent son to father and son as equals. It will be the best of times for both of you.