It is Fathers Day 2006 and most of us will have thoughts, remembrances or gift ceremonies. Some of us will be at the receiving end and others will give and some will do both – but most of us will think about our fathers. Good, bad or indifferent - I do.

When I was small we lived on the second floor of a building that had a warehouse on the first floor. My grandfather and my dad both stored their wares there. There was a long staircase on the side of the house with a small platform or landing at the top that gave entrance to the front door. The steel pipe railings on the side were made smooth with the traveling of our hands on them and the breeze at the top on the platform was simply delicious. Many nights when we couldn’t sleep, our family would sit there on the platform with feet dangling over the sides. It was these times that my father always brought his guitar out and sang his melodies. My favorite was “Vuela Vuela Palomita” – (Fly Away little bird).

During those days, it was an obligation that after you bathed in water you had an equally as drenching bath in talcum powder. The water was limited to regular shower quantities however the talcum powder was limitless. And there we sat – kids – frustrated or for some reason – restless and not ready to sleep. Or comments were only about the many reasons we should not sleep. I can see our Mom and how she would look inside through the door and nod - and (as if on cue) my Dad would come out with his guitar. He normally sat about two or three steps down from where we were on the landing and his voice would start its’ calming effect. “Vuela Vuela Palomita”.

Visions of flying doves with their wings spread and soaring across the drifting plumes of talcum powder that left our young bodies – all of it going of into a gentle wind. His voice brought images to my young mind and they would be the last ones for that night as my brothers and my eyes shut. I can only imagine that he would ask if we were asleep and then carried us each to our beds.

It is Fathers’ Day in 2006 and in so many ways we are children looking for the comfort that Fathers’ give. We seek those moments when porch events were endless and songs or words drifted along with talcum powder into the night

Had I only known – I would have not slept so readily – I would have listened to those songs far into the night and talked. But I was a child and he was my father and he sang us to sleep.

I should have asked more questions when I wondered about things. I should have held his hand a bit longer after we crossed the street– but I was a child then and now I am…

“Vuela Vuela Palomita”

be well and happy fathers day

charles
2006

charles, a very happy fathers day to you.

CC, dont know how I missed your message. Just read it today 6-24 @ 9:30 AM. Extremely thoughtful. Wish I could have read it on Fathers day, needed the uplift last Sunday.


I think maybe you wrote the song, "Its a Wonderful World", its you personified!

Louis Armstrong sang it. Its a big request where soft nice music is played live.

Always keep in mind, many good people read very enjoyable posts, extract much from them, and do not write back with any response. A fabulous post requires no answer. RC