I have three children. I used to hear their laughter and see their faces often, but now, it\u2019s been years since I\u2019ve seen them. They told me they were bringing me here for my own good. They said I\u2019d be more comfortable, surrounded by people who understand my needs. And, for a while, I believed them. But now, as the days go by, I notice that the phone doesn\u2019t ring. Not even a message.\n

\n\n\n

Sad because, in my heart, I never stopped loving them, even though I\u2019ve been forgotten. I\u2019m sad because I don\u2019t ask for much\u2014just a little acknowledgment, a hug, a \u201cHappy Birthday, Dad.\u201d\n

I have always believed that love isn\u2019t measured by grand gestures or constant presence. But today, in this quiet room, I wonder: did I ask too little?\n

I don\u2019t hold grudges, but I can\u2019t help but wish that somebody, even a stranger, would remember me today. A simple thought, a small act of kindness\u2026 something to remind me that I still matter, that I am not just a memory fading into the background.\n

If you are reading this, I ask you not to feel pity, but to think of the dads, the grandfathers, the parents who might be sitting in silence today. Not because you know me, but because even a stranger can bring a little warmth where there\u2019s only quiet.\n

At my age, I live on memories. My past is rich with moments that have shaped me, yet I find myself clinging to hope\u2014a hope that this message reaches those who have forgotten to cherish the small things before time slips away.\n

So, to all the fathers, grandfathers, and parents who are quietly waiting for a little love, I send my best wishes. You are loved, even when it\u2019s not spoken aloud.\n

\u2764\ufe0f\u00a0To those who have been left alone, remember that you are not forgotten.\u00a0\u2764\ufe0f\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Today, I turn 89. My name is Joseph, and here I am, sitting in a quiet corner of the retirement home. A plate of dumplings rests in front of me, but I don\u2019t know who made them or if anyone will wish me a happy birthday today. I have three children. I used to hear …\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":104584,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1449,1439],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-104579","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-life","category-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104579","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=104579"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104579\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":104585,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104579\/revisions\/104585"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/104584"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=104579"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=104579"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=104579"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}