Old Man Morgan

So how many of you know the above captioned song? In my mind, it was one of Harry Chapin’s best. It’s a story about a young boy and his father. Throughout the boy’s life, the father missed many events because he was gone, or busy, or whatever (there was always a reason). The boy keeps saying “Its alright dad – I’m going to be like you someday”. Well the boy grows up to be a man. The father, now elderly, calls his son – but his son is just too busy to see him for all the same reasons that the father had …. so the father hangs up the phone and realizes his son has grown up “just like him”. A true but sad song.

Now, I recognize that the people most likely to read this blog are my own family – so please, don’t feel any guilt. I am not writing this to induce hurt, anger, nor guilt. Because even today, I (myself) have to make choices about lifestyles, careers, income that don’t always make me readily available to my family.

I guess the reason I am writing this, is the more I think about it, the more I love my family – allof them.

I am so proud of my mother and father. They have struggled throughout their lives – never achieving “success” as many define it. But, also, having never given up. They continue to march forward every day. They continue to pursue life, and maintain their freedom. They have taught me so much – and I am so very thankful.

My wife, Decy, is the bedrock of my existance. While some might be thinking, where’s God? This is blog is about people in my life. Without Decy I am nothing. She brings the humor to my life. She brings fresh perspective. She loves me just the way I am (and I am NOT an easy man to be with). She is a joy to be with – always. While we don’t always agree on everything – we always hold our love for each above all else. Decy is the only one that, no matter how upset I get, can calm me down simply with the touch of her hand on my back.

Ah, my 3 sons – each already a man pursuing their passions and their hearts. I am proud of each and every one of them. They are very different and are pursuing different paths in life. But, each knows what they want and each are working towards achieving it. Although I was largely an “absent father,” I have endeavored to instill a good work ethic in my children. Based on what I see and know, I believe my sons have incredible work ethics – this will take them far in life. I love each one – and am so very proud of all three – my engineer, my missionary, my computer/music geek.

Chely and Thasya, my daughters – thrown into a den of lion’s – taken out of Ciputat and thrown into a life of international influences, relocations, culture shocks, losing friends, making friends, learning new languages – and ahem, learning that they have to compete: compete for grades, compete for time, compete for internships. Compete, compete, compete – it must drive them crazy – and yet, they are willing to take on the challenges and are not giving up. Both are learning and growing at an incredible pace, and I am so very proud of them – both of them. I love my daughters.

And finally (for this blog), last but not least is my sister and her family. We all take different paths in life and although my sister and I shared similar childhoods we have not shared similar adulthoods – I have pursued a 60+ workweek career that takes me all over the world, while she has pursued a more flexible (but in many ways more demanding) work schedule that has been relatively stable. She is the stator – I am the rotor. She is the conservative one – I am the flamboyant one. I love her and her family dearly. No matter how different we are … we respect each other, for we are both successful – we just got there differently. And, no matter what is going on in life – if one calls for “help”, the other is instantly there … we are so far apart … and yet we are so close.

I love my family – you are a treasure – and you are the reason I continue moving forward. Thank you. I love you.

ciao ciao