The Ties That Bind

My son thought it an adventure learning how to build on real scale Who could say they don't love the day when their sons light shone in detail

My son thought it an adventure

learning how to build in full scale

Who could say they don't love the day

when their boy's light shone in detail

 

We had worked into the evening

my son and I together played

Sharing the trials exchanging smiles

rebuilding the home where we stayed

 

He felt this would be a great test

knowing on him I would depend

I think he knew as I did too

that summer was about to end

 

I drift back in dreams to the day

we both held to our love of clan

The autumn breeze played through the trees

saying my boy was now a man

 

Johnny Cash   Home of the Blues 

Author's Note

Our house had suffered smoke damage last summer. It was a telling time for sure. But through it all my son stood by me. He and he alone helped me rebuild what we had lost. I realized when he turned down going to meet friends for a trip to Cedar point just to help me finish our new deck that he was a man. But as we passed smiles back and forth I also knew I was losing my little boy. It is a great feeling to know you have done well by your child. It is also so sad to realize that the day will soon come that I will have to let go. I can say when a man is a boy all the new days ahead are adventures. But to a father time seems to test your resilience. While everything is exciting to the young who find it new. Life makes us grow when older by learning to let go.

Reviews

[1VJ]

You've captured a profound moment in time, when a boy becomes a man, and his papa is so proud. It was a tragedy but out of it came pride and ended on a gratifying note.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Paloma Yes it was a precursor to the pain that i would have to let go one day. When that day came i was no less sorry to see him go than I was proud of the man he had become.

[1VJ]

I don't think we ever fully let go, just give them freedom to fly their own path, my pleasure Tate.

[Tate Morgan]

Thanks Tate is now 20 and in college he is no less the little boy inside than he was then But to the outside world he has become a young man.

[Einstein Noodle]

thanks for the link Tate ..knowing your story and bond you have with your son makes reading about this tragedy sweeter ... the home burned but you guys grew fonder in its rebuilding .. something nothing can ever take away from you ... i have not suffered the loss of property in such a way but reading about it most always tells the tail of people coming together and triumphing over destruction and loss .. we find that true value of life you so often speak of ..
E.

[Tate Morgan]

Thanks Gene well I lost 8 houses in my divorce a lifetime of work gone in an instant.This picture is not of my own house as i had no pictures of the event.However Tate and i kept one of my houses in the divorce and we had a fire in 2010. His friends came by to get him to go to the school cause they were heading out to Cedar Point the great roller coaster Park He smiled at me and said "No me and dad are building I'll go another time. it was autumn by then.I couldnt help but feel the cold winds Blow telling me I was going to face the truth and that right soon That Tate was becoming a man.A desperation fell on me to make sure I had given him all the tools to survive as an adult. So I set to teaching him all that I knew. And that day surely came .When it did i wrote this for him. "Days That I Have Known" http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/aristate/1196689/

[Tate Morgan]

There are times i come here late at night and see on the counter on my front page that someone from Ada Ohio has been by to read them.That is where Tate is going to college.So funny when i forst started writing he was 11.he was so upset about it hated being the subject of my works as well.As time went on and his face adorned my first book.His friends all told him how cool that was and how they wished their fathers were as close to them. He learned to treasure these thoughts and in so doing fulfilled my purpose in writing them.

[Einstein Noodle]

beaming in the glow of a fathers pride ..well done young man! and your son as well .. good stuff! .. 8 houses!!!! you must be kidding ;) ouch!
E.

[Tate Morgan]

I wish I were and it happened at the peak of the housing crash

[Einstein Noodle]

oh man!!!! those were the best of times ....;) etc. :))) i love you man! so nice to be getting to you sir! well wishes
E.

[Pax]

our house was flooded before it becomes to ashes... a trial i went through just recently and the fact that I'm away helpless and just hoping everyone was fine at that time... well tragedies sparks when your still starting to learn…. After the great flood that almost wash away many lives then there was this neighborhood fire… nothing much was save…just little cloths from here and there… But what I think, the most important is they are safe…things can be replace and a life of an individual is much more important… and I see in this piece that your son learn to be strong as he had seen you work hard to rebuild and trying hard to start over again… his a very fine young boy who thinks with his heart…

a wonderful piece mr. Tate

[Tate Morgan]

You know Pax I was wrong about you I admit i was so wrong when we first met.I made a judgement based on the people i already knew.Ill tell you this I am sorry it is an honor to be your friend .I humbly ask you to forgive my rash judgement based on my previous experiences .I thought back then that you were someone else.You are a man of character and humility. I am proud to be your friend

[Pax]

at first i really thought i offended you in my review... that i was not very careful in my words.... now i see its all in the past now... i don't have any problem at all... its a pleasure to be your friend as well... we are all literary friends here in wc...

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you it wasnt anything you died It was someone else and i thought you were that person again in disguise

[Pax]

yup i see that... maybe i can advice you to ignore as you let go, and forget as you think about what's more important now... in that way you'll able to free yourself from all that happened in the past... and i too try to live by that... I'm still learning though... i have a very tired heart that always keeps on hoping... and your most welcome my friend...

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you I will avail myself of your advice in the future .

[Eileenws]

What a story and what a tribute to your son. You are very lucky that you and he survived that and no one was hurt. I hope your rebuilt house gives you some wonderful memories. Great job. Eileen

[Marie]

You're lucky to have had a sun stay with youduring that time. A lot of boys might just have brushed this off. Your boy took responsibility with you...and I'm sure is on his way to ebeing a fine man.

[AlieahRose]

THIS IS AMAZING...
I'M SO SORRY...
THIS HAPPENED AND...
YOU GUYS PROVED...
TO STICK TOGETHER...
IN TRYING TIMES...

[...]

A well expressed heartfelt piece of loss, hope ,and enduring love!

[AK]

Wonderful piece of poetry. Clearly heartfelt.

[LadyNaida]

This is heartfelt! I totally agree with you because my oldest daughter just went to college and words could not express how I feel without her around the house. She is my best-friend and confident and I miss her so much.

[patricia]

The picture and poem were moving and your authors note was amazing. Thankyou.