On September 11, 2006 the Philippine branch of the Wilson family tree; Gene, Dave and Mai traveled to Manila for business and a family outing.

It was the first time Dave had flown.

Here is Dave smiling as we first sit in the Airbus 330.

Dave is introduced to the concept of seatbelts.

Since Dave is under eighteen months old he is classified as an infant and does not have a seat of his own. At first his mother was going to hold him, then after some struggles, I volunteered to be the one to hold him.

So for the one and one half hour flight to Manila I held my son as he first struggled to get free, then rested quietly on my lap and then slept soundly and peacefully for the duration of the trip.

I had a lot of time to reflect as I held Dave on my lap. I thought about the gift he is to me and how it is late in life to be so blessed with a child. I thought about how important it is to me to be a good father to him.

My thoughts wandered to an earlier time in my life when his three older sisters were small children. I remember them at his age and other ages also. I remember how important it was for me to be a good father to them and a good husband to their mother.

I remember that there were so many things I did not know about being a good parent then and that I mostly learned as I went through life with them. I hope I was the father they deserved most of the time. I hope for the times I was not able to be the best dad they forgive me my mistakes and love me anyway.

I hope the life lessons I have been exposed to in the intervening years will help me to be a good father today.

All of my children are blessings to me. I love them with all of my heart.

 

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