Father's Day 2005

Here I am at 7:45pm in the evening at work on Father's day. I spend a wonderful day eairler today with my wife Lisa and my son James. Lisa let me sleep in till about 1pm. Sleep I truely needed after getting home the night before at about 3am. I got up in haste because my wife had just come into the room crying her eyes out. I asked her what was the matter and she mumbled something I could not hear. It turns out she was crying because she was finishing an assignment I had given her.

You see my wife was very close to her great grandmother. Besty, as she is affectionately known to her great grand and grand children. Lisa misses her dearly and always metioned to me that Besty would have loved me if she would have gotten the chance to meet me. My wife Lisa has a wonderful gift. One that she shares on occation when the mood hits her. She is a writer. I say this is a gift because I regard writing as not just a talent or skill that can be tought but a special reward that God has given you to touch people with the writen word. I have been trying to get Lisa to write more but for some strange reason she does not believe in her speacial gift of writing.

So when she asked me what I wanted for my second Father's day I told her I wanted something written by her about Besty. I wanted her to tell me in three short paragraphs something about Besty that would give me a better understanding of how she greatly touched not only her life but many others. Before I would have had to pull teeth to get her to write something for me. She would always find a reason to put it off or not do it at all. So this time I made it into a request of a gift I wanted for Father's day. She could not refuse me. Here is my Father's day gift from my wife.

To Jeffrey Alexander Brathwaite
on Father’s Day


I’ve met a few men
that Lisa has fancied,
And yes, they were all
well and good.
But when I met you,
I tell you I knew,
Marry her?
You’d be
one who would.

And she is so happy,
We all can just see.
That’s what I’d expect,
Or you’d answer to me!

But you’re a good man.
So no worries there.
And now, look, fast forward,
You’ve got you an heir.

James Edward, James Edward,
A beautiful boy.
A “First”
in so many ways,
He brings us such joy.

He is the reason I stand here,
I say,
With wishes for a Happy
2nd Father’s Day.

This time last year,
it was diapers and poop.
This year, my son,
You’re still in the loop.

But the day will soon come,
When your son’s all grown up.
And you’ll fondly reflect
on his first sippy cup.

You’ll wonder what happened,
How could the time fly?
Was not it just yesterday
You heard his first cry?

And then you’ll have Lisa,
Who’ll stand by your side,
and hold your hand tightly,
Too beaming with pride.

You see James is special,
He comes from a line
Of hard-working, loving men,
Faithful and fine.

He has no choice
But to grow like them too.
The one he’ll be
most influenced by?
Dear, it’s you.

And I’m happy about that,
And I have no fear,
‘Cause I love who you are,
And your value is clear.

So walk with the Lord,
He’ll guide you, I know.
Fatherhood is not easy,
But the way He will show.

So stand tall, Stand proud,
Say I—Great-Great-Grandmother,
You’ve done well with James,
Now I want me another!

Happy Father’s Day!


Happy Father’s Day, My Love.

Kisses, Your Wife

My son and my brother

James Edward Brathwaite

was born on January 29, 2004. James Norman Brathwaite was born December 17, 1970. James Edward is my son and James Norman was my brother. My son was named after my brother who died of Bacterial meningitis when I was 16 years old. He was 14 at the time of his death.