Alex, I'm going to say much the same as everyone else; but from a slightly different tack. I'm not going to tell you not to feel guilty, or to feel bad that you cannot be there. Those are legitimate feelings; but mis-directed.
Let me explain. It's OK to feel bad that you cannot be there; but you should be feeling bad for yourself, not for Fred. He knows how you feel. You give him the only thing that means anything. And I DON'T mean a sailboat. Or Sailing. Or RC Helicopters. You give him your time, your attention, and beyond all, your respect. The other things are only a manifestation of the more important things.
The very fact that you feel this way tells me that you are a good man!
I could not add much to what SD said; but wanted to chime in and give you a "chin up". Have no doubt that Fred hears you're voice guiding him in his race! Also, his being able to perform without you watching over him is an important step in growing his confidence and becoming the man his father already knows he is!
__________________ I got an Old Fat Boat
She's Slow But Handsome
Hard In The Chine, but Soft In The Transom
I Love Her Well, And She Must Love Me
But I think It's Only For My Money
. ..... Gordon Bok
Well said Ajari.. especially since you agree with me... that's the important part...
BTW, it is pretty obvious that you've got a good kid and that he doesn't feel neglected, even if you do spend much of your working time travelling, since you make him and Luis the center of your life when you are home. If you would bother to read any of his posts... it shows pretty clearly how well Fred knows how you feel about him... and how much he has learned from you... Thank God he got his brains from his mama...
__________________
Sailingdog Telstar 28
New England
You know what the first rule of sailing is? ...Love. You can learn all the math in the 'verse, but you take
a boat to the sea you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turning of the worlds. Love keeps
her going when she oughta fall down, tells you she's hurting 'fore she keens. Makes her a home.
—Cpt. Mal Reynolds, Serenity (edited)
If you're new to the Sailnet Forums... please read this POST.
Still—DON'T READ THAT POST AGAIN.
Last edited by sailingdog : 12-01-2007 at 07:42 PM.
__________________ I got an Old Fat Boat
She's Slow But Handsome
Hard In The Chine, but Soft In The Transom
I Love Her Well, And She Must Love Me
But I think It's Only For My Money
. ..... Gordon Bok
You know when you will REALLY feel this way, Alex?
The first time Fred takes out Giulietta by himself...and you wait back in the marinha!
Of course, as his father, you can take his lines...
That's only four, maybe five years away, I think! (OK, maybe when he's 16, I don't know the Portuguese sailing licence laws...)
You crazy Kanuk....
don't give him any ideas now, man....
Are you nuts??
He won't be able to sail it....he's not "that" good.
Just kidding, he can use it any time when he grows up...in fact, the way he sails now, I bet that in a year or so he will be able to take her out, sail around the 12mile marker and bring her back home safe, with just his best friend and one or two of his racing team buddies...to help hoist the main.
Now that gave me an idea...I am going to try and see if he wants to do that. I'll follow in a power boat off course.
What you need to do is build another identical boat, and then you and Fred can race each other....
BTW, need the info on the hat website.
__________________
Sailingdog Telstar 28
New England
You know what the first rule of sailing is? ...Love. You can learn all the math in the 'verse, but you take
a boat to the sea you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turning of the worlds. Love keeps
her going when she oughta fall down, tells you she's hurting 'fore she keens. Makes her a home.
—Cpt. Mal Reynolds, Serenity (edited)
If you're new to the Sailnet Forums... please read this POST.
Giu, let me give you some perspective from the homefront. My Alex is away from home for his job a lot too, but he makes our children his priority every minute that he is home--they have no doubts that they are the center of his universe. When he is away, he is as homesick as you are. They miss him, but I assure you that he is far more tortured than they are with the absence, because they always know he loves them and they always know he is coming home. I am sure it is the same for your family, your love for your family and theirs for you shines through in what you share with us here.
Now go get Fred a bigger boat.
And get Giulietta a day at the spa.
__________________
Our strength is often composed of the weakness that we're damned if we are going to show.
Now I just bought Giulietta a new dishwasher a cooking machine and clothes iron, what does she need the spa for??
Dinner will not be made and clothes ironed, if she's at the spa....will it??
Now...I saw a nice boat I like......
Estou a brincar querida!!!
See, now you need to stop thinking like a man for just a moment. If you surprise her with a day at the spa...when she gets home she will be refreshed, happy, and grateful. Dinner will be made and the clothes ironed, I'm sure...and she may have a little more pep in her step after dinner (wink, wink) too....
Can you translate the last for me? I do hate babelfish.
__________________
Our strength is often composed of the weakness that we're damned if we are going to show.
especially since you agree with me... that's the important part... 
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