A Touching E-Mail
Someone mentioned that yesterday was Abraham Lincoln’s birthday… Er, birthday…birthday… O CRAP! I forgot my middle son’s birthday; it was last month. I'd forgotten so I sent him this e-mail:
Hi Johnny,
I forgot your birthday.
Didn't even send you an e-card.
Didn't remember till now, almost a month later.
It's not that I don't think of you; it's just that I don't think--Period!
I'm sorry.
Love, Dad
I felt so proud and humbled when he sent me this reply:
Dad, I love you and think of you often. Yet I never seem to remember to send anyone I know a birthday card. It's not something I'm overly good at. Knowing that folks are there and doing well just seems more important to me than a card or the like. Recently I'm thinking of valentine's day. A complete fabrication that should be ignored. But Lord help the man who does.
In some ways I think it a good thing. After all, how often are we busy saying something else to the important folks in our lives? Did you remember to pick up the milk is no where near as important as I love you. Then I can ask if you picked up the milk.
So it's a day to remind me to say the words which I guess I've never been very good at. Having emotions and showing them to me seem far distant things from each other. Maybe one day when I grow up I'll see things differently. Or maybe I'm just your basic antisocial slug.
Anyway, I love you Dad. You've been one of the greatest inspirations in my life. Your a great man, a great writer and in my world one of the best people I've ever known. I'm so proud to be your son. Thank you for that.
Please, visit my website for more www.cowart.info and feel free to look over and buy one of my books www.bluefishbooks.info
posted by John Cowart @ 5:35 AM
3 Comments:
John, thank you for your visit to my blog and your kind comments. One does what one can under the circumstances.
The email from your son is a treasure. Thank you for sharing that with all of us.
As for Valentine's Day, it can be a little tricky. I think of it as "Catch-Up Day", not because I think someone doesn't love me but because it's a way to say I love you, however you feel moved...AS LONG AS YOU DO SOMETHING, dear! Guys just don't get that part and girls go overboard with expectations of flowers and the like. It's the human condition.
Johnny is a great guy, like father like son.
Now, my dear friend John -- this assessment of you by your son is the truth. It is opposite of all you say about yourself or think about your self. But it is, in fact, the truth. He sees you as you really are. Several of us do.
Love,
Wes
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