Heaven on earth…

There are times in one’s life when you can truly say that you’ve fallen in love… again!

It didn’t come on by any extraordinary event. I didn’t save anyone from a rabid wolverine or stop a speeding train or take a bullet… nope, none of those things happened (or ever has), but it happened in the least likely of times: sitting around the dinner table.

We were eating dinner the other day when my 6-yo daughter threw me the “I love you” horns. I smiled and tossed them back at her, except with my middle finger also bent down, meaning, I love her back.

She smiled, tilted her head a bit and continued eating.

I stood up to take my plate to the sink and when I turned around, that’s when it hit me. I saw my family – MY family – together and enjoying themselves. My daughter began to laugh at my 14-mo son because he made a funny face when my wife tried to put a piece of chicken in his mouth. Then my wife started laughing because my daughter’s giggle suddenly turned different; it was a mixture of high pitch cricket and cackle calls (I like the description of “crickackle”). It was weird to say the least.

Anyway, my son started to smile and show us his beautiful baby teeth, but the “crickackling” seemed to get louder.

It was then that I felt this warm… calm sensation. It’s hard to explain, but I looked at my wife then my daughter and finally my son… and I knew I found my Heaven here on earth. This is exactly where I’ve wanted to be for so long.

When I was 18-yo and in the Navy, I could tell you the precise moment the feeling of fatherhood hit me. I had just reached the top of the ladder leading from my berthing when this sense swept over me. I have no idea if this is a universal experience, but I knew that I wanted to be a daddy. Not a father, because any man can father a child, but a daddy. It takes someone special to be a daddy and I do believe that I fill this role perfectly.

Yup, I’ve fallen in love again. Not only with my wife, but with my children and whenever I’m with them, I’m reminded that my life has meaning and I certainly would (and will) never ever want anything else in trade.

I’m happy… and have been for a number of years now.

I’m happy… and so much in love.

Again.