In the doorway of my home,l looked closely at my 23-year -old son,Daniel.In a few hours he would be flying to France to experience a different life.It was a transitional（过渡的） time in Daniel's life.l wanted to leave him some words of significance.But nothing came from my lips,and this was not the fist time I had let such moments pass.
When Daniel was five,I took him to the bus stop on his first day of kindergarten. He asked,"What is it going to be like,Dad?Can I do it?"Then he walked up the steps of the bus and disappeared inside.The bus drove away and I said nothing.A decade later,a similar scene played itself out.I drove him to college.As I started to leave,I tried to think of something to say to give him courage and confidence as he started this new stage of life.Again,words failed me.
Now,as I stood before him,I thought of those lost opportunities.How many times have I let such moments pass?I don't find a quiet moment to tell him what they have meant to me.Or what he might expect to face in the years ahead.Maybe I thought it was not necessary to say anything.
What does it matter in the course of a lifetime if a father never tells a son what he really thinks of him?And as I stood before Daniel,I knew that it did matter.My father and I loved each other.Yet,I always regretted never hearing him put his feeling into words.Now I could feel my palms sweat and my throat tighten.Why is it so hard to tell a son something from the heart?
My moth turned dry,and I knew I would be able to get out only a few words clearly."Daniel,"I said,"If I could have picked,I would have picked you."That's all I could say.He hugged me.For a moment,the world disappeared,and there were just Daniel and me.He was saying something,but tears misted my eyes,and I couldn't understand what he was saying.All I was aware of was the stubble（短须）on his chin as his face pressed against mine.What I had said to Daniel was clumsy.It was nothing.And yet,it was everything.
