Rant #2,208: Congratulations

Today is a very important day in my family.

Twenty-three years ago today, in 1995, our son was born.

So my wife and I had the perfect "nuclear family" with his addition, although in a funny type of way.

During my first marriage, we had a daughter, and now, with my forever union, we had a son, so yes, it was the perfect "nuclear" family: mother, father, daughter, son.

The coming of our son was a momentous occasion. We had someone to carry on our last name, and two of my grandparents--my father's parents--were still alive to witness his coming into this world.

I still have the vision of my grandmother, suffering from Alzheimer's Disease but at this point, still somewhat cognizant of what was going on, helping to put our son, who was being fussy, to sleep by cradling him in her arms and rocking and kind of singing him to sleep.

A few months later, she had no idea who he was, but that moment was pure magic.

Our son is the greatest son a father could have. He wasn't supposed to do as much as he has done thus far in his life.

He was diagnosed with a learning disability when he was in nursery school, was doomed to failure by some, but he has exceeded all expectations because of hard work and diligence.

He is like a piece of art. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I have learned through our son that smartness is, too.

There is the smartness that is accepted in society, that gets you good grades in school and helps you go to college and get a good job.

Then there is the smartness that comes out of necessity, because you perhaps don't think the same way as others do, or as the norm decries that you do.

That is the smartness that our son has. Going back to the art reference, one looks at a painting, and one person might find it to be a work of genius, another person might find it to be a work of ... nothing much.

I think you can say that about our son. He is a smart guy; maybe not the smartness that will get him into Harvard, but his thinking process should not be devalued as it is in school and by society in general.

This guy, who wasn't supposed to be able to do much of anything, has actually been working since he was 15 years old. Sure, his first jobs did not pay him anything, but they set the groundwork for his subsequent jobs, where he gets a salary.

He has won commendations for his work--he just got one the other day--and he is well liked by his co-workers, who I believe see as much potential in him as we do.

Look, nobody is going to say that the road hasn't been a bit bumpy with him. There are times that we just have to shake our heads and yes, worry about him.

But he always seems to bounce back, and sets himself up to conquer the next mountain that stands in his way.

He is actually a pretty lucky guy. At 23 years of age, not only does he have my wife and I for support, but he also has three of his grandparents around to cheer him on. He also has an extended family--aunts, uncles, cousins--who really believe in him.

My wife and I will celebrate his 23rd birthday tonight--we all have to work today--and we will celebrate 23 years of accomplishments that his early detractors could never have predicted.

Yes, he is a work in progress, and there is always room for improvement. And he is progressing along the way, surprising us every day with just how much he can do versus what he can't do.

This is someone who, maybe despite the odds, is going to be all right in his world. His job has helped provide him with a focus, and he enjoys doing it.

So to our son, the very happiest of birthdays to you. The road you have been on--and the road you have taken us on--is not always straight, but it is there for the taking.

And you are slowly maneuvering through it, maybe a couple of steps at a time, but you are getting there, and you will get there.

We are convinced of that.