tomorrow he'll be a year... the day after that he'll be going off to summer camp, high school, then college...
the time seems to unfold exponentially in retrospect, as anyone who has aged any will tell you...
... and it only gets faster from here.
the little guy will soon be walking, talking and climbing trees, riding his bicycle and playing ball in the street with his little ruffian buddies.
in a sense i can't wait to play catch with him, tell him why the sky is blue when he asks and take him on camping and fishing trips as fathers and sons do...
but part of me doesn't want him grow up. i don't want him to know the evils of the world. and naturally, my own selfish reaction is the desire to shelter him from these things - but to do that would deny him the experience of a rich and full life, and the value of learning to do right by his own mistakes.
all i can do is spend time with him, be there for him when he needs me, listen to him when he needs me to listen, and share with him the wisdom i have gained through many, many, many, many mistakes.
our lives get hectic at times, but what counts most is to spend time with people you love and enjoy it while it lasts...
...because we may not be here tomorrow.
i love my little son!
happy half-birthday, little buddy!
-dad
