第5章爱在无语时WordsfromaFather（2）
Inhisroom，Daretchedoutoartedtoleaveforthetriphome。Itriedtothiosaytogivehimdceashestartedthisnewphaseoflife。Again，wordsfailedme。Imumbledsomethinglike，“HopeyoufeelbetterDan。”A。
Now，asIstoodbeforehim，Ithoughtofthoselostopportunities。Howmanytimeshaveweallletsuentspass?Aboygraduatesfromschool，adaughtergetsmarried。Weghthemotionsofthey，butwedoourandfitotellthemwhattheyhavemeanttous。Orwhattheymightexpecttofatheyearsahead。
Howfasttheyearshadpassed。DanielwasborninNewOrleans，LA。，in1962，slowtowalkandtalk，andsmallofstature。Hewasthetiinhisclass，buthedeveloingnatureandularwithhispeers。Hewasatedandagile，andhebecameadeptinsports。
Baseballgavehimhisearliestge。HewasanoutstandileLeague，aually，asasenihsadethevarsity，winninghalftheteam’sgameswitharecordoffivewinsandtwolosses。Atgraduation，theedDaeam’smostvaluableplayer。
Hisfihough，cameataschoolscefair。Heenteredashowiorysystemworks。Itrimitiveandcrude，espeparedtothefanputerized，blinking-lightmodelseherstudents。Mywife，Sara，feltembarrassedforhim。
Itturhattheotherkidshadheirowshadmadetheirexhibits。Asthejudgeswentontheirrouhattheseotherkids’taions。DanielansweredeveryohejudgesawardedtheAlbertEinsteihebestexhibit，theygaveittohim。
BythetimeDafehestoodsixfeettallandweighed170pounds。Hewasmusdiion，buthe，havinggivenupbaseballflishliterature。Iwassorrythathewouldnotdevelophisathletit，butproudthathehadmadesuchamaturede。
&oldDahegreatfailinginmylifehadbeenthatIdidn’ttakeayearortwoofftotravelwhenIfinishedcollege。Thisisthebestway，tomywayofthinking，tobroadenoneselfanddevelerperspelife。OnceIhadmarriedandbegunw，Ifoundthatthedreamoflivingiurehadvanished。
&aboutthis。Hisfriendssaidthathewouldbeihishold。Buthedecideditwasn’tsocrazy。Aftergraduation，heworkedasawaiteratcollege，abikemessengeraer。Withthemoneyheearned，hehadenoughtogotoParis。
&beforehewastoleave，Itossediryingtofigureoutsomethingtosay。Nothiomihought，itwasosayanything。
Whatdoesitmatterinthecourseofalife-timeifafatherellsasohinksofhim?ButasIstoodbeforeDadoesmatter。Myfatheraher。Yet，Ialwaysregrettedneverhearinghimputhisfeelingsintowordsandneverhavihatmoment。Now，Icouldfeelmypalmssweatandmythroattighten。Whyisitsohardtotellasohingfromtheheart?Mymouthturneddry，andIknewIwouldbeabletogetoutonlyafew
“Daniel，”Isaid，“ifIcouldhavepicked，Iickedyou。”That’sallIcouldsay。Iwasn’tsureheuoodwhatImeaowardmeandthrewhisarmsaroundme。Foramoment，theworldandallitspeoplevaherewasjustDanielandmeihesea。Hewassayimyeyesmistedover，andI’tuandwhathewassaying。AllIasthestubbleonhisashisfacepressedagaiheeowork，aafewhourslaterwithhisgirlfriend。
Thatwassevenweeksago，andIthinkabouthimwhenIwalkalongthebeaweekends。Thousandsofmilesaway，somewhereoutpasttheowavesbreakiedshhtbesgacrossBermain，strhamustyhallwayoftheLanelbowiBaIhadsaidtoDanielwasdtrite。Itwasnothiwaseverything。