To Me Good Ol’ Popsy
As I flip through my Portuguese phrasebook, I remember you and your handy book in Thailand. You didn't go anywhere without it. English would have easily sufficed in most circumstances, and in others we had a native guide, but that wasn't the point. Through the language you sought to understand the culture. With questions, observations, and experiences, you dedicated yourself to learning about Thailand and the way people live there. And your efforts were always appreciated, your passion always admired. I realized how far just a few words (plus a bit of charm) could go.
But it doesn't take a phrasebook for you to know the right thing to say. Whether I come to you with a history paper, a ring ceremony speech, or a general life issue, you've got the answer. You untie the knots, as we like to put it. When I lost the student council election, you hid poems in my backpack to help me get through the following day. When I travel, you scatter paintings throughout my luggage. At parties, you have just the right joke. At board meetings, just the right quote. You find the perfect balance of wit and intellect.
When people ask me if I've been homesick, the answer is "no." On a whole, I don't have an aching pain to get back home, but I do miss the little things: Hearing you play guitar as I go to sleep, waking up to an omelet masterpiece, watching an old movie, beating you in ping pong (oooh, did I just go there?).
So here I am in Auckland, waiting for my flight to Brazil (recently delayed), and thinking about how my hair is almost as long as yours was back in the day. It just hit me that, in years to come, right now may be "back in the day" to my kids, and they might look at these photos and wonder "what was dad thinking?" the same way Nick and I do. Scary thought, but that's a different subject. The topic of today is your birthday, and it would just be silly if I finished this little post without ever saying "Happy Birthday." And now that I got that out of the way, I'd like to add a "Thank you." Thank you for inspiring me to learn and to live, and for encouraging me to follow my dreams this year.
(Click on the photo to see the rest of the message!)
aren’t you adorable…happy birthday mr melvoin!! miss you charlie!
February 20th, 2006 at 8:29 pmSo what was wrong with my hair “back in the day?”
Okay, okay, I can deal. Sort of.
Quite a birthday card, mister. “Thanks” hardly seems adequate. Between your surprise post and your brother’s surprise visit home this weekend (albeit spent mostly helping out at Camp Harmony), I can’t think of better gifts. And next time I’ll be the guy in the scuba gear next to you!
Safe journeys to your latest continent and buena suerte (new phrase book).
And love always,
YGOP
February 20th, 2006 at 11:22 pmp.s. Thanks for the birthday greetings, Connie!
February 20th, 2006 at 11:23 pmAre you missing me yet? What a stupid question, I know you are! I’m still in shock that we made in through 9 countries in 13 weeks together. Take care and safe travels and remember to have your speedo ready for Carnival.
February 21st, 2006 at 1:32 amPeace out my little shadow.
Cheers,
Tanya
You made your dad’s day, week, month and maybe year with that post and photo greeting. Thanks for making the day special. Have fun at Carnevale but what is this about wearing a speedo for the occasion?
February 21st, 2006 at 10:40 amCharlie I’m always thinking about you!!! When i go on my travels I always wonder what you are up to. Keep enjoying yourself!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEFF!!! Miss all the Melvoins terribly!!
February 21st, 2006 at 2:28 pmhey charlie!
i hope you are having the most amazing time of your life right now. i miss you so much! i just watched your sky-diving video - so funny! everything that you do in each unique place looks like so much fun. so im visiting my sis this weekend at BC / stopping by harvard and maybe saying hi to your brother. have fun in brazil!
love,
shannon
p.s. im liking the long hair charlie
February 21st, 2006 at 11:20 pmCharlito!
What a nice bday post for popsy! I mean I flew across the country to see him, but i guess yours was nice too…hehe
.
How’s Sur America? Bien I espero! I’m back in my dorm after an amazing weekend of family, LA, and Camp Harmony! I hope that I get a call from you soon so I can go into detail about the whole thing (too lazy to write it all) and to hear about your amazing adventures. I’m a little behind with your posts, so I plan to catch up before I go to bed. And guess what?! I leave to visit you exactly a month from today!!! Exciting!!!!
Lots of love,
LB
February 22nd, 2006 at 12:35 amo hey charlie, i just wanted to say hi and then tell you that I actually have to go do more important things bc that was THE OBNOXIOUS MESSAGE YOU LEFT FOR ME TODAY!
but anyways…a happy birthday to papa melvoin! i miss the guitar/banjo (as charlie and i tend to refer to it) playing just as much as charlie!
February 22nd, 2006 at 9:56 pmo p.s. i might be slumming around in egypt this summer so we’ll have to cram in some major charlie/gabrielle time before fyi!
February 22nd, 2006 at 9:58 pm