By any description he is not my son...

[JW_Halverson]

...but when he called me today in between Basic and AIT, I knew he wasn't the boy I waved goodbye to just a few short weeks ago.  I knew this was no longer the little kid that looked up to me with sparkling eyes when I let him shoot one of my handmade bows.  This was not the kid that was a little too excited when I said "OK" the first time he announced, "I'll drive, I have a license."

No, by no technicality is he my son.  But the love and pride I have for him shows in the tears on my face. I know a father's fear of losing him, a father's pride in his accomplishments, a father's joy in seeing him becoming a man and a soldier.

Atta boy, Bugsy!

[Olanigw (Pekane)]

Still very much your son, even if he's grown out of being your little boy.
Congrats on raising a man

[Eric Krewson]

I sent my granddaughter off to college Friday, we have no DNA in common linking us but she is the light of my life and I am proud to be called her Paw Paw. Once asked by one of her friends in Nashville in my presence "Is he your grandfather?", "no" she replied "he is my Paw Paw".

Here in the south the term "Paw Paw", as strange as it sounds to outsiders, is the ultimate expression of love and respect.   

[Zuma]

JW
All the money, all the land, training, talent and education
cannot and will not break the bonds created through noble LOVE.
To have those close to you, Blood or not, love you in return
is a unique blessing. You are blessed as I am blessed.
Zuma

[half eye]

Mr. Halverson,  I respectfully have to disagree, sir. The moral turpitude and core values of America's finest (military personnel) are learned sir Your son had those before bootcamp and AIT, and you sir are part of that teaching partnership. Allways been there, just learned how to express the intangible is all. The son can be the reflection of the father, America is a fortunate country to continually raise these fine examples of manhood. God Bless you both.
rich

[JW_Halverson]

No, this young man is not my son.  I just got to borrow him. His mother raised him and I got to spend time with him.  She did the work, and I got to watch him grow.

Like I said, nobody's definition can be stretched to me being his father, I just felt what a father must feel.  I sat down this morning and wrote him a letter telling him just how proud I am to know him and to have spent time with him.  Only took me 5 pages to do it. 

[mullet]

JW;

You ought to send his Mom a copy, I'm sure it would make her swell with more pride and make her feel good for her hard work. Not many raised in a Single Parent Home turn out worth a damn, and, I said, not many.

[KHalverson]

JW
congrats.
he may not be family by blood but you definitely made a positive impact on the boys life.
good on ya.
KH

[Buckeye Guy]

JW if you were old enough I would be glad to call you Pa , but you ain't so you you will just have to settle for freind!
Till we meet again my friend keep up the good work and stand watching for this young mans return!
see ya on the other side! !
Guy

[paoliguy]

Being that active in a child's life with out any obligation, solely by choice. That is an honorable thing. I promise you that young man recognizes that fact. You are more than a father to him an I salute you in that.

[JW_Halverson]

JW;

You ought to send his Mom a copy, I'm sure it would make her swell with more pride and make her feel good for her hard work. Not many raised in a Single Parent Home turn out worth a damn, and, I said, not many.

I spoke with her last nite on the phone for a long time.  It was punctuated with long silences, but she and I are comfortable inhabiting those silences.  At the end of the call, she said something that made me very angry, though.  She put in for elk tags without me.  Fortunately she did not draw so I will have to find a way to forgive her.

Meanwhile, his osage stave given to him by Wolf Watcher stands in the corner of my shop. Waiting, just like me.

[soy]

Only 5 Good for you dub I'm sure his eyes will shed a few also