If I look in the mirror, I see the old man in the movie “Up”. My neighbors and especially their children treat me that way. When I unlock my gates and walk outside to get my mail, they nervously wave. The children peek at me from behind their mothers' legs. The neighbors all know my name. They even know my dog’s name. This amazes me as I don’t know any of their names. We don’t talk. I just wave and they say, “Hi, Richard.”

I never had children. I always thought it must be wonderful to have a son or daughter say, “I love you Dad.” The other day I was attending a birthday party for Luke. I have known Luke and his brother Bill their entire lives. I have watched them grow up from babies to little men. I have watched the boys go through all sorts of changes. I have even almost cried when Billy, after days of planning and excitement, was given his valentine card back from a little girl who said she couldn’t be his valentine. Women.

Luke’s birthday was Sunday. He is now 9. His older brother Bill is about to go to middle school. This is the equivalent of disappearing into middle earth where trolls, demons and orcs abound. Kids are never the same when they come back from middle school. The party was roaring when I knocked and walked through the door. The boys were told to stop their play and come down stairs and give me the mandatory hello hug demanded by their parents. Down they came. The hugs felt genuine. But, what got me was that after the hug, Billy gave me a very sweet kiss on the cheek. I wasn’t expecting that.