Missing my wife ... longing for my son: 8-11-07

I was separated from my seven-month old son for two weeks, the longest stretch since he was born. I was away on a business trip, and during that time plus a week, my wife and my son were away in her home country, Japan. I’ve always felt that empty feeling when you come home to an empty home. This time, it was all the more sharper because my wife AND son were away. I felt that joy today of seeing them come home. My son was in the car seat hugging that security blanket as if it were Linus’. I was recovering from a cold, so I resisted the temptation of kissing him. But I hugged him, talked to him, squeezed him. Two days ago, Peter Yarrow of the 60’s folk band, Peter Paul and Mary, happened to be in the newsroom where I worked, so I asked him for an autograph for my son. When his assistant asked how old my son was, I replied, “seven months.” I then explained that I had grown up listening to Puff the Magic Dragon, the PPM song about the boy’s friendship with a dragon, and that I now play that song on my guitar for my son.

I’m so glad we never went for an abortion. I could not imagine a life without my son. He’s such a fountain of joy. I can’t wait to get home from work every day to see his smile