第47章父亲儿子和我（1）
MyFather，MySon，Myself
沃特·哈林顿WaltHarrington
MyfatherstilllooksremarkablylikeIrememberhimingup：hairfull，bodytrim，faed，eyessharp。What’sdifferentishisgentlenessandpatience。Ihadrememberedherasaboy，andIwonderedwhichofushadged。
MysonMatthewandIhadflowntoArisonaforavisit，andhis67-year-oldgrauninguphisguitartoplayfortheboy。“Youknow‘Oh，GiveMeaHomeWheretheBuffaloRoam’？”myfatherasked。
Allthewhile，four-year-oldMatthewwasbounthecouch，furtivelystrummiarheosedtotoudtalkily。
WhenIwasaboy，myfatherwasn’taroundmuch。Heworkedsevendaysaweekasamilkmaworkhewasthetaskmasteriia。Infras，andatnighthedispensedpuhoughrarelybeyvoiceorasgfinger。
&eourfathersles，Iedmyfather’slove，whichwasourlifelihroughshtimes。Thereareplentyofwarmmemories—heandIonthecougTVtagravelroadie，Ill。，atdusk，ridinghomeinaging“RedRiverValley”。
&hiswayofsmilihiswayoftossingabadedeingmeknoroudofmeandmyats。Hewasaruggedteaser，anditwasdurihatIalwayssensedhisgreatunspokenlove。WhenIwasolder，Iwoulduhatthisishowmanymenshowaffewithoutaowledgiy。AndIimitatedhiswayofsaying“Iloveyou”bytellinghimhisoobigorhistiestoougly。
“It’snotwhatamansays，butwhathedoesthatts。”hewouldsay。Wordsaio。Hewenttoworkeveryday，heprotectedme，hetaughtmerightfr，hemademetoughinmindandspirit。Itwasourbond。It>
ItwasaboyofmyownthatIbegantothinkalotabouttherelatiohersandsonsaouand—myowhremarkableclarity。
Ifthereisauniversalplaiheirfathers，itisthattheirdadslackedpatience。IrememberonerainydaywhenIwasaboutsixandmyfatheruttinganewroofonhismother’shouse，adangerousjobwhenit’sdry，muchlesswet。Iwaohelp。Heatientandsaidno。ImadeasdgottheonlyspankingIrecall。Hehaschuckledatthatmemorymaheyears，butIhehumor。
OnlynowthatI’vestruggledtofindpatienmyselfwheshehelpmepaintthehouseorsawdowhebackyardamIabletoseethatdaythrough，myfather’seyes。Who’dhaveguessedI’dbeangrywithmyfatherfor30years，untilIrelivedsimilarexperiehmyownson，who，Isuppose，isangryno
Mly，trarytomyteeionthatIwasn’tatalllikemyfather，Ihaveetothegreaterrealization。Iamverymuchlikehim。Wesharethesamesenseofhumor，samestubbornness，andsamevoi。AlthoughIdidn’talwaysseethesesimilaritiesasdesirable，Ihavegrowolikethem。