Grandson of Luz y Antonio; Son of Jaylie y Luis.

My son turned 3 today and I gotta say: it's a blessing.

For a few months this year, he was a bit clingy and really wanted to fall asleep on my chest a lot.

Those were some of the happiest moments of my year.

Here's a piece I wrote the first draft of while watching him nap one afternoon.

I don't know if he'll be embarrassed or honored when he can actually read this but we'll cross that bridge when we get there. I just hope he'll feel loved, like he does now.

---

Sometimes Silence Is My Favorite Song.

I shuffle through this dusty collection

of daylight saved,

With the future on my chest,

Breathing with me.

The left side of his face imprinting

on my lungs

like a vinyl record.

His right hand is the phonographic needle,

Running a delicate circle around my life.

Watching him redraw an album cover

with sleepy eyes.

To me that’s a scribble,

But to him it’s the meaning of life.

To me it’s just

*inhale, exhale, echoed heartbeat*,

But to him it’s a lullaby.

Who am I to argue?