We Three

I remember when we were three
We three had our adventures
We survived our childhoods
We stuck together
We slowly grew up to become
Three men

I remember when we became four
We four had our challenges
We survived and thrived together
We have always loved by example.
We quickly melded to become
One family

You are Love

Everything thing you do for us, I appreciate.
You always amaze me with your vision and execution.
You are love.

Everyday I celebrate because you enrich my life.
You are talented, beautiful and a joy to be married.
You are loved.

Everytime I wake up next to you I smile.
You comfort me and you complete me.
We are loved.

I Have Learned ...

I may not be the fastest runner but my endurance and inner drive will always carry me over the long haul. I believe in sacrifice. I believe in quiet confidence. I am not afraid of competition. I am a gracious loser and a gracious winner. I have never forgotten what I was taught as a child and I have never forgotten to be generous to my family, friends and those less fortunate than me.

I am an above average athlete. I can play any sport including those unfamiliar to me. I love to downhill ski. I love to play basketball. I love to play tennis. I have tremendous potential when it comes to playing golf (left handed).

From an early age, I remember wanting to be a champion of the oppressed or those without a voice. I have learned that a college education (and an advanced degree in an area of passion) is a wonderful experience. Education is the great equalizer in our society. Through education, anyone can become anything they wish to pursue. I believe in creating one’s opportunities combined with determination, creativity and a bit of “being at the right place at the right time.” I love to teach and I have been granted the gift of passion and articulation.

Joseph Campbell told me to “follow my bliss”, I listened and my life was changed forever. I have never failed when I have “trusted my gut”. When I ignore my” inner voice”, I have fallen hard. However, when I fall I have found the strength to pick myself up and walk forward with my head up and my resolve in tack.

I love to travel. I love wonderful hotels, down pillows and down comforters with Egyptian cotton sheets (the higher the thread count the better). Dinner is my favorite meal. Excellent food, excellent wine and excellent conversations inspire me. When I am not traveling, I love to curl up on the couch with a good book or a good movie or a good cup of tea. I love to wake up early and work in quiet by acknowledging my creative writing skills – there are plenty of times when creativity seems to have left me and the struggle to write is heavy.

Billy and Vincent

Life has a strange way of making us see “things” we may have never wanted to see or were just too unaware or too unprepared to accept. My life has been an adventure and for the most part, it has been an enjoyable ride. I have tried to learn from my mistakes.

I have tried to be kind to people and expect the same from other people. I hold doors for women as well as men. I give up my seat to women and handicapped people. I engage strangers with at least the common courtesy of a smile if not words of encouragement. I look people in the eyes when I speak to them. I never judge a book by its cover so I may be given the same courtesy by strangers alike.

I teach my children to respect themselves and to challenge mediocrity. I believe in quality over quantity, if I had to choose. A day does not go by that I do not miss my boys. I call them daily and tell them I love them. I have faith that my love for them will overcome anything. Life is too short to have regrets and I try to live each day to its fullest. I still cry at good movies and when I hug the ones I love.

My life presents numerous challenges and many rewards. I still believe in honesty, integrity and faith. I can laugh at myself just as easily as I can make others laugh out loud. My sense of humor has kept me alive and helped me to not take life so seriously especially when I try, at times, to be perfect. Perfection is unattainable so I have learned to settle for above average but never for mediocrity.

I welcome people into my life with open arms. I believe people are brought into our lives for very specific reasons and at times we do not truly understand their purpose. However, if we are open to the experience we may grow as individuals and come away with new understandings and insights on the world.

I Am Someone

who laughs at himself
who does not try to be perfect and asks, “who is bob?”
who does not try to impress, persuade or control
who knows how to just BE
who takes the wrong subway, with a smile
who accepts the good with the bad
who is centered, peaceful and quiet
who celebrates life everyday
who takes time to smell the flowers
who gets lost
who does not make promises that he cannot keep
who takes the time to see the birds
who sees the sunlight illuminating the leaves of a tree
who is confident yet reserved
who is REAL everyday to a fault
who is sincere, generous and kind
who is honest, faithful, spiritual and TRUE
who realizes he is no better or no worse than everyone else trying to get by each day
who takes care of himself, everyday, physically, emotionally and spiritually
who is open and honest with his wife, children, family and friends
who respects other people’s feelings, fears, boundaries and their love
who reflects upon his life with honesty, curiosity and wonderment
who learns from his mistakes and confronts his addictions with courage
who takes time to know himself and appreciate his time to himself
who forgives himself and those who he perceives have injured him
who loves unconditionally with conviction, honesty and confidence
who appreciates what he has lost and everything he has to gain through TRUTH
who exhibits no need to control situations and people
who owns his choices as Bob’s choices and openly accepts any consequences
who understands the TRUTH is much easier and HONEST than a LIE
who can slow down, explore, and live everyday to its fullest without regrets

Water is Life

I have always loved the water.
Pools, oceans, tubs and glasses
Water has always made me feel safe
Underwater, I could feel free
Free from an abusive childhood
Free from a shamed early adulthood
Free to take control of my life and
In mid life have the courage to live
Water almost took my life but now
Water is life and I live in joy
Water soothes me and clams me
Water is life and I am alive

Friends and other Fathers

There are friends and then there are friends who are fathers.
Born in the shadow of your own father
We emerge to cast light upon the lives of our children
We manage to break the chain of custody from father to father
We stand, alone at times, peering into the unknown future
Praying that we have loved enough and received enough love
We, Fathers are not alone but members of a bond
That seals us as friends and other fathers

My Children are the Mirror of Me

Father's Day means that Fathers
Get to surround Themselves
With their children and their wife.

My wife is the love of my life
My children are the mirrors of me
Hopefully, the best with more to come.

Fathers and Sons, Sons and Fathers
The connection is solid with unspoken
Respect and admiration and awe.

The love my sons and wife give to me
Is the greatest blessing I could ever
Receive and return to them ten fold.

Communicating with Those Who Will Listen

I was once told that I should listen twice as much as I speak.
We were designed with two ears and one mouth for a reason.
Communicating with those who will listen
Is a gift that we all must learn.

We communicate very well most of the time.
When we have a disconnect, we are patient.
We are kind. We listen. We love.
We have worked diligently to be good listeners.

My father once ran for a local political office when I was a kid.
His campaign slogan was, "Listen. Hear. Now"
I have never forgotten his mantra
Though, at times, I say too much

I constantly try communicating with those who will listen.

Seeing is Forgetting

"Seeing is Forgetting the Name of the Thing One Sees"

- Robert Irwin

From Here to There

Standing here and looking there,
I wonder how do we get from here to there

The process and the effort are calculated
While the actual results depend one's perspective

Following one's Bliss will keep one focused
The goal will be achieved with you holding my hand

Which You Have Given

Which You Have Given to Me

You have given to me your love
You have given to me your trust
You have given to me honesty
You have given to me support
You have given to me boundaries

Boundaries that have saved my life
Boundaries that have taught me sanity
Boundaries that have made me focus
Boundaries that do not restrict
Boundaries that define who I am

Which You Have Given to Me

I give my loyalty to you without hesitation

You Three Complete Me

You Three Complete Me
You Three Make Us Four Better
Us Four Are Very Blessed
We Have Each Other
We Have A Family

A New Perspective

There are times when my perspective seems accurate.
However, you have taught me a new perspective.
Things are not always what they appear to be, most of the time.
We may "see" the same thing but what is our perspectives.
You have opened my eyes to a beautiful truth,
A truth that have escaped me for most of my adult life.

A truth, that is sometimes hard to look at, but the truth nonetheless.

The truth that true love does heal the heart and save the soul.

You are my angel that has made me see what has caused me pain and now has healed me.

You Wear That Fine Hat So Well

The architecture of a fine hat.
You wear that fine hat so well.
The fine hat captures your beauty quite nicely.
Framed against the City skyline,
You wear that fine hat so well.

Boy(s) How They Grow Up Fast

I remember the day they were born.
Minutes apart from each other.
Best friends then and now.

I remember the day we got married.
Minutes of anticipation leading up to the "I Do".
Best friends, forever.

The four of us have been a wonderful family unit.
Atypical, untraditional but pure love and adoration.
We made it work then and it continues to work, day by day.

Pants d'Art

We can create art anywhere and at anytime.
We can be juvenile or adult in our presentation.
Art surrounds us and art defines us.
We need art in our lives and we need to be creative.

The Veil of the City

The City we live in is the City we love.
Memories of our times together.
Happy memories, many memories.
A remarkable skyline.
A wonderful marriage.
You and me.
So happy together.