I know it has been awhile since I have posted anything on here, but I have been spurred to do so by the activity of one of my friends who has chronicled her family's moving experience that can only be classified as an series of unfortunate events. She has recorded everything along this trip (quite cheerfully I might add) and it has inspired me to hopefully attain one of my New Year's Goals: keep a journal or electronic journal. Hopefully I will be able to have some continuity to this activity, as I have a few journals filled with starts and stops of various previous attempts. After talking to another friend of mine, I have a different motivation, my son Sammy. You see I want to do this for him, so he knows my (or our) thoughts about him, his activities and general random outtakes from life. So here's to you my son!
Lately I have been thinking about what it means to be a father (as of this writing I am almost 11 months in to this endeavor) and what I want for you, Sammy, in your life. I have been pondering this ever since we found out your mother was pregnant, but was augmented recently by hearing Brad Paisley's song "Anything Like Me". Being a music nut, my thoughts instantly recall songs in the past that I identify with this theme. A Creed song popped into my head along with some others, but I settled on two specific titles. I have included links to performances of these songs that are, in my opinion, their best representation. Being a huge fan of live music they of course preformed in their rawest most emotional form. It just so happens that they both come from the decade from which I was born.
The first that I would like to share with you is an all time favorite of mine (not surprising to many of my friends) with which I have some connection, Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Simple Man". You see, the members of the band were/are from the same town where I was born and raised, Jacksonville, FL, thus giving us a similar background in culture and values. When Ronnie Van Zant wrote the lyrics to this song he was combining the experiences of several band members and advice given to them by various family members. I received similar advice from your grandfather, who heard it from from my grandfather before they passed away. The lyrics are very similar to what I strive to be, loving, truthful, honorable, humble, minimalistic and faithful. Traits that I hope you will incorporate along the way in your life.
"Simple Man"
Mama told me when I was young
Come sit beside me, my only son
And listen closely to what I say.
And if you do this it will help you some sunny day.
Take your time... Don't live too fast,
Troubles will come and they will pass.
Go find a woman and you'll find love,
And don't forget son, there is someone up above.
And be a simple kind of man.
Be something you love and understand.
Be a simple kind of man.
Won't you do this for me son, if you can?
Forget your lust for the rich man's gold
All that you need is in your soul,
And you can do this if you try.
All that I want for you my son, is to be satisfied.
Boy, don't you worry.
You'll find yourself.
Follow you heart, and nothing else.
You can do this, if you try.
All that I want for you my son, is to be satisfied.
The second song is a wish for both of us. Selfishly I would like to see you stay forever young and never to face life's ups and downs, but I know you will leave home one day to live/build your own life. The below song, written by Bob Dylan, sums up both my selfish wish and my wish for you.
"Forever Young"
May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.
May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.
May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
And may your song always be sung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.
No copyright infringement intended for either video. Used for educational purposes only.
Well done Bill. Sammy's lucky to have a great dad with GREAT taste in music. Outstanding choices.
ReplyDeleteMy wife and I have also been keeping a blog for our twins (http://2ptconversion.blogspot.com/)and definitely have had a few dry spells where we've posted nothing. But lately we've found that even a simple, recent photo does the trick. We hope, as I'm sure you do, that it's a record of their early years that they'll treasure when they're older.
-Dan Berthiaume
Thanks Dan I appreciate it.
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