7 Little Words

My father died at 79. My mother lived to 96. I am 71. I never heard the words "I love you" from my parents. I raised six children of my own and half raised three from my wife's first marriage. I cannot remember saying "I love you" to them or my wife. Does this mean my parents did not love me? Of course not, they showed it every day of my life.

My Dad always said "The best part of the chicken was the back". Did he believe that? No. After all of the children were raised he gave the whole chicken hell. With 14 kids feet and 4 adult feet under the table someone had to eat the backs, as the Dad it fell to him. My mother always did her magic. With little or no money she could always find a little extra when we needed something. (more about that another time) I never thought it strange that my Mom never had a new dress.

Did I not love my children or wife? Ridiculous! I just never told them. Three years ago my son Jesse had a daughter. Last year I sent her an e card of me singing, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY'', and I closed with "Grandpa loves you girl, yes he does". Seven LITTLE WORDS. A Lifetime without saying them. Now they just rolled off my tongue!

The next time I visited my granddaughter, her mother told me she always wanted to hear Grandpa Santa sing to her. Now when we talk on the phone or I visit, the first words out of my mouth is "Grandpa loves you girl, yes he does". She smiles and gives me a little giggle.

Maybe if I had told my wife I loved her I could have saved my marriage, maybe not. When I think about it my wife always had a smile playing around the corner of her mouth. Maybe I could have coaxed out like a kitten with a string.

Well I say those seven little words all the time now.

Reviews

[Jonathan Bryant Dean]

Dad,
Here is an edited version that you can cut and paste into the story field, I hope this helps.


My father died at 79. My mother lived to 96. I am 71. I never heard the words "I love you" from my parents. I raised six children of my own and half raised three from my wife's first marriage. I cannot remember saying "I love you" to them or my wife. Does this mean my parents did not love me? Of course not, they showed it every day of my life.

My Dad always said "The best part of the chicken was the back". Did he believe that? No. After all of the children were raised he gave the whole chicken hell. With 14 kids feet and 4 adult feet under the table someone had to eat the backs, as the dad it fell to him. My mother always did her magic. With little or no money she could always find a little extra when we needed something. (more about that another time) I never thought it strange that my Mom never had a new dress.

Did I not love my children or wife? Ridiculous! I just never told them. Three years ago my son jesse had a daughter. Last year I sent her an e card of me singing, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY'', and I closed with "Grandpa loves you girl, yes he does". Seven LITTLE WORDS. A Lifetim without saying them. then they just rolled off my tongue!

The next time I visited my granddaughter, her mother told me she always wanted to hear Grandpa Santa sing to her. Now when we tak on the phone or I visit, the first words out of my mouth is "grandpa loves you girl, yes he does". She smiles and gives me a little giggle.

Maybe if I had told my wife I loved her I could have saved my marriage, maybe not. When I think about it my wife always had a smile playing around the corner of her mouth. Maybe I could have coaxed out like a kitten with a string.

Well I say those seven little words all the time now.
� 2007 Naedknarf

[Patricia Gayle]

I really enjoyed this writing. I grew up in a family much like this. "I love you" was never really spoken, just kind of understood from certain members. Even today I have trouble saying it to certain people because I almost feel ashamed of it. Thank you for sharing this. I think a lot of people out there can relate to it.

[George Love]

Although personally I can not relate to this, I know and have friends who have grown up in that environment. My parents are still alive and we always end conversations with I Love you and the same carrys on in our home today. Even the one prodigal who has had trouble knows he is loved. I am glad you posted this. Those words carry tons of weight and lift tons from the soul!

[Celtic Cat]

Yeah, I don't recall those words flying freely around my home growing up. I do recall "you bloody buggers" (mom hailed from Scotland) and "I'll give you something to cry about!" Yes, of course I knew they loved me, and JohnBoy's review made me think about this tale of mine: I had walked upstairs having just ran into my brother downstairs and exclaimed to my sisters "Kevin just told me he loved me!" They both looked at me curiously until I followed it up with "he called me 'weirdo'" : ) Sometimes, you just know what they mean, as John did. Now, when I tell my man I love him, he always replies 'yeah'. : ) I know that's just Glennay speak for "I love you, too". Of course, when he does say 'I love you'...it fills me up and warms my heart just a little more than the standard 'yeah'. : ) thanks for sharing this story. much love~~Cat

[V. K. Harris]

Great story, Its funny how some words seem so unimportant to say at the right time, only to wish later your eyes were open. Thanks for sending it my way.

[Carole]

So glad to hear you broke the cycle in your life, Frank. I think telling your loved ones you love them is essential. My grandfather didn't tell my mother he loved her until just before he passed away in his 80's. My mother struggled for years with gross insecurity. Not to say it was all because of that, but I do believe it was a contributing factor to her insecurity. Hearing those words shows acceptance. I am thinking that back in the day, it was more common not to be open, but again, I think it is extremely important.

This was a good write and one that needed to be shared as there are others that struggle in this area, I am sure. I remember an old episode of Jackie Gleason and a conversation between he and his wife about whether or not he loved her because he never told her. He said, "Of course I love you, I'm here aren't I." What a lame thing to say.

Thank you for sharing. :)

[Luna Tique Fringe]

Oh, this is just great...parts of it sound so much like my own family. "mother always did her magic"...how well do I understand those words. We were always told by my Grandma, a good cook is someone who could make something from nothing. I hope you keep telling us your stories. Personally speaking, I could care less about capital letters...when what you are spinning is gold.

[Chantal-lise Mirman]

WOW! You have wrapped a lifetime into a paragraph without even the use of capital letters and managed to give us, as readers, a clear picture of home and family in the Kentucky hills! This is a thoughtful, expressive, utterly charming reminiscence of the survival and evolution of family life. Who knows how those "7 little words" would have affected you growing up, or your wife and kids? That is only a small part of the family puzzle and the fact that those words are now apart of your daily vocabulary speaks volumes. Apparently, they were simply dormant all these years, like chicken eggs not yet hatched...

Your e.e.cummings style is perfectly understandable, and I don't know if I would bother to change it. I have to say, I particularly liked the description of your former wife,

"she always had a smile playing around the corner of her mouth. maybe i could have coaxed out like a kitten with a string."

I applaud you for shouting out those "7 LITTLE WORDS" now!

And you'll pardon me if I have to ask, is that REALLY your photo on the profile? Because I DO believe in Santa Claus!!!

[Bobby]

Makes me wanna cry. So beatiful.

[Jonathan Bryant Dean]

I can forgive the non caps, because I know how hard it is for you to type. The fact that you wrote this is awesome. I am sure I have heard you say "I love you boy, yes I do.", every time you said to me, "Hey, Jonboy, good job.", and "Do ya need some help boy?" I think that if a picture is worth a thousand words, then an action is worth a thousand pictures.

JonBoy