To Eli On His Second Birthday

[sargent]

Happy birthday! I keep saying that to you, and you repeat it back to me, but you don't yet really know what that means. Here's a hint for you: PRESENTS. You do know what presents are, though. Christmas taught you that. Now anything wrapped is a present, and you demand to open it. It's not like you really care that much about what's inside-it's the

Comments

hopes & fears

[anonymous]

It all sounds so familiar, and reminds me of hopes and fears, particularly fears, I had (and still have) as your father. Most of all, I'm reminded of how much I felt I couldn't say to you or even to my own father, certain that he wouldn't understand; he'd had it all together where I was so often a basket case. Now I know better, but the opportunity's gone. I'm glad you're saying things to Eli; the real sadness is the unsaid, unshared thought. The unshared is gone more quickly, and more irrevocably, than even the shared.

Dad