[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...

[mdittmar]

Rod Stewart? Blah!;)

[Quix]

WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS how much I Loved your post.

Haven't heard from a most treasured Godson for 3 years.

Have made a habit of telling and showing everyone of any significance at all in my life of my love and caring for them in as many ways and times as I could remotely get away with.

Even students and clerks I see often feel fairly intense caring flowing through me to them.

And I have long felt that research is abundantly correct--ONE of the reasons we have so much rampant homosexuality is that fathers fail to give their sons sufficient healthy AFFECTION. China was wonderfully different, thankfully. Our culture seems to have robbed Taiwan of that quality that was so evident 35 years ago.

I hope you hug and kiss your son liberally in all kinds of contexts and settings. The Love you've shown him to this point has no doubt sunk in and will more the more he's absent from it. I hope he gets hugged long and hard and kissed on at least two sides of his, no doubt loveable, head.

MORE POWER TO YOU. God's best Love in all your close relationships.

Thanks for the encouragement.

This radical Lover here intends to go right on doing my more or less best to Love in Jesus' Name.

Embarrassment comes and goes. The convictions about the Caring lingers long.

[Exit148]

Carlo -- I will never hear or think of that lovely song again -- without having you and your message in mind. Simple words you exchanged with your son, but soooo powerful.

I also am blessed in that my grown children always add a "I love you, Mom" when we leave, either physically or on the phone. It is a small thing, but it reaches deep inside.

[IronJack]

I miss my son every time I have to say goodbye. Thanks for the reminder, Carlos. Your son has a great dad.

[carlo3b]

 

Never be cynical about love, for in the face of all avidity and

disenchantment, it is perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel

of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nuture

strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not

distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue

and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline be gentle with

yourself.

You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars.

DESIDERATA ~

 
 

[GOPJ]

I'm so happy I clicked on this thread, you make my heart sing...

[Unknown Freeper]

Carlo, thank you so much for posting this thread. I just returned from taking my five year old to my sister's for the weekend. The whole way back I just wanted to turn around and go pick her up but I always tell her about how she should enjoy spending time with the rest of her family.

She already tells me, "I know. I know, mommy. You love me all the way to the sun and back." whenever I ask her if she knows how much I love her. (I guess she got it after the first hundred times. lol) I don't know what I am going to do when it is time to go away for college. I am crying over kindergarten next week. Your post has made me feel better and let me know that everything will be okay.

You are a good dad. We love you, too.

[Cultural Jihad]

"Ladies and gentlemen, beloveds...
Would it embarrass you very much if I told you that I love you?"

[TatieBug]

From someone who doesn't have immediately family members left, this is very touching. It reminds me to cherish my friendships and special people and "take time" to let them know. Thanks for expressing your feelings.

[dandelion]

I sympathize, through my tears.

Three weeks ago, my daughter graduated from Air Force Basic Training. As the weekend rolled on, I did my best to be cheerful and proud; after all, my child had given her future to the service of her Nation. But then the weekend was over, and we sat in the car holding hands during our last minutes before her deployment to San Angelo. I let go of her hand, and she began the long walk back to her dorm. About thirty yards out, she stopped and turned back to stare at me - and even though she was so far from me, I saw the tears in her eyes. I saw my little girl, who now wanted to run to her mother.

I did the only thing I knew how to do at the time: I burst into a off-tune and dreadfully loud rendition of "Off We Go, Into the Wild Blue Yonder".

"Off we go, into the Wild Blue Yonder,
Climbing high into the sun..."

I saw her smile ruefully; then she turned with perfect military bearing towards her dorm. She continued in cadence to the beat of my dreadful singing all the way down the walk, further and further, smaller and smaller. Suddenly she was very small, like a little blond-headed girl I once nursed at my breast. I remembered; I wept like a baby as a military woman turned the corner into the distance and my little girl disappeared...

[dandelion]

I sympathize, through my tears.

Three weeks ago, my daughter graduated from Air Force Basic Training. As the weekend rolled on, I did my best to be cheerful and proud; after all, my child had given her future to the service of her Nation. But then the weekend was over, and we sat in the car holding hands during our last minutes before her deployment to San Angelo. I let go of her hand, and she began the long walk back to her dorm. About thirty yards out, she stopped and turned back to stare at me - and even though she was so far from me, I saw the tears in her eyes. I saw my little girl, who now wanted to run to her mother.

I did the only thing I knew how to do at the time: I burst into a off-tune and dreadfully loud rendition of "Off We Go, Into the Wild Blue Yonder".

"Off we go, into the Wild Blue Yonder,
Climbing high into the sun..."

I saw her smile ruefully; then she turned with perfect military bearing towards her dorm. She continued in cadence to the beat of my dreadful singing all the way down the walk, further and further, smaller and smaller. Suddenly she was very small, like a little blond-headed girl I once nursed at my breast. I remembered; I wept like a baby as a military woman turned the corner into the distance and my little girl disappeared...

[hasegawasama]

Your post made me actually consider a few things in my life... thanks.

[glory]

Hey Carlo, I'm sure he will be fine. He's got a heck of a dad!

[M. Peach]

Dude - you're awesome - thanks for the great words and feelings - I'm feeling them now.

[Brad’s Gramma]

OK. It's time we put a STOP to all this crying on Free Republic! I'm tellin' you......NEVER have I cried so much as these past two weeks.

Now y'all STOP this being nice, OK???? (I'm kidding, I truly am.)

If I had to make a list of all the Freepers who have influenced me in good ways, become my friends, my confidants....I'd be here, bawling, for days.

Carlo...your son will be fine. Absolutely fine. It is NOT easy having them grow up, is it??? Thanks so much for starting this thread!!!!

[BradyLS]

We love you, too Carlo! And thanks! My immediate family ahs had some scary times these last few yeas. Nothing serious, but potentially so. And we never say these things to one another. (Well, our mom does.)

God bless!

[Grampa Dave]

Keep it up, and they will do that to your when they in their 20', 30's and on past those ages.

[nicksaunt]

Carlo,

What a wonderful post!

I had an old-fashioned Mexican dad who always told his family that he loved them. My dad passed away almost 2 years ago at age 78. God, family and country were everything with Dad. He came to this country in 1945, worked very hard and essentially was the great American success story. Dad became a Republican in 1966 because of Ronald Reagan and he always told us that becoming a naturalized American citizen in 1951 was one of the proudest moments of his life.

The other day, my mom and I were speaking with an old family friend. She complimented my mom on what a nice family she had and how great it was to see grown up siblings all get along and treat each other with so much love and respect.

Before my mother could respond, I said, "you know why, I had the best mom and dad in the world."

There is no doubt in my mind, that in many years to come, when we are all gone, your kids and grandkids will be saying the same thing in describing you and your wife.

God bless you and your family. You are a good Dad.

And guess what? I love you back!

[gonzo]

You're a good man, Carlo. I felt the same way when I had to send my son and two of my three daughters off to college.

Called my Dad yesterday in North Ontario, Canada, and told him I loved him. My sister has to relay the words, 'cause Dad's damn near deaf, but he still plays shmaltzy music at the old-folks home every Sunday, tryin' to pick-up chicks!

Now, my kids are in Ohio, North Carolina, Indiana, and Arizona, and I always get an answering machine when I call.

Just joined your newsletter thingy, pal. Good Luck in your business.............FRegards

[Bon mots]

Just don't come home and say it to your wife.

WHY?

Two friends were playing golf one sunny day, and one (Joe) was complaining about his relationship with his wife. The other seemed to have a supremely blissful relationship with his wife of many years, so Joe asks him, "What's your secret to such a happy and blissful marriage?"

"The secret, my friend, is to compliment your wife and be generous with kind words."

Joe then replied, "...you mean, all I need do is to compliment my wife more often?"
"Exactly", replied the second gentleman.

The next day after work, Joe comes home excited and a bit nervous... he sees his wife working in the kitchen and comes up from behind her with some flowers, plants a big kiss on her and says, "Honey, I just want to say what a wonderful wife you are and I truly love you more than anything on this earth."

His wife then bursts into tears, sobbing uncontrollably.
Joe is startled, and asks, "What's wrong? What did I say?"

His wife explains, "What an awful day. First, I scraped the side of the car in the mall parking lot, then little Timmy came home from school with a fat lip and a black eye, and now YOU come home DRUNK!