An email from a friend:
A very touching letter - suggested read for all young people. (translated from Chinese). Blogger i-spot.
Oct 17, 2006
Dear son,
* The day that you see me old and I am already not (?), have patience and try to understand me.
* If I get dirty when eating, if I can not dress, have patience.
Remember the hours I spent teaching it to you.
* If, when I speak to you, I repeat the same things thousand and one times - do not interrupt me - listen to me.
When you were small, I had to read to you thousand and one times the same story until you get to sleep.
* When I do not want to have a shower, neither shame me nor scold me.
Remember when I had to chase you with thousand excuses I invented, in order that (to get you) to bathe.
* When you see my ignorance on new technologies - give me the necessary time and not look at me with your mocking smile.
I taught you how many things - to eat good, to dress well - to confront life.
* When at some moment I lose the memory or the thread of our conversation, let me have the necessary time to remember, and if I cannot do it, do not become nervous, as the most important thing is not my conversation but surely to be with you and to have you listening to me.
* If ever I do not want to eat, do not force me. I know well when I need to and when not.
* When my tired legs do not allow me walk, give me your hand the same way I did when you made your first steps.
* And when someday I say to you that I do not want to live any more, that I want to die, do not get angry - some day you will understand. Try to understand that my age is not lived but survived.
* Some day you will discover that, despite my mistakes, I always wanted the best thing for you and that I tried to prepare the way for you..
* You must not feel sad, angry ... at seeing me near you. You must be next to me, try to understand me and to help me as I did you when you started living.
* Help me to walk, help me to end my way (life) with love and patience. I will pay you with a smile and the immense love I have always had for you.
I love you son!
Your father.
http://ispot.blogsome.com/2006/10/17/a-fathers-letter/