Leaves from the Vine




In one of my favorite TV shows, there’s a character in it named Uncle Iroh. In a specific episode, it depicts Uncle Iroh going throughout his day serving other people, including a moment where he sings a song called “Leaves From the Vine” in order to comfort a distressed child.

For the past few weeks, I have been in the hospital in Boston with Samuel, on the other side of the country, while the doctors attempt (again) to get his seizures under control. While there, we had our own person like “Uncle Iroh,” who helped comfort us during our time of distress in the hospital far away from home.

Because we spent Father’s Day in the hospital, my family observed it last night where they gave me a gift. A clamshell music box that played that special song “Leaves From the Vine” that Uncle Iroh sang to that child in distress.  Though small and unassuming, when I heard the music box play, I wept.



As we continue to watch our Samuel decline, and as I opened that small gift, I thought about the episode that shows Uncle Iroh spend all day serving others. At the end of that day, as the sun is setting, he climbs a hill and kneels down in front of a grave. After a brief moment, he quietly looks at the grave and says, “happy birthday my son…” then, in grief, he weeps as he sings that special song, “Leaves From the Vine” one more time.

I know there will come a day in my life where I will visit a grave and wish my son happy birthday. I can only hope that while I'm kneeling beside that grave, I can tell my son that I had tried to be like Uncle Iroh that day…


Leaves from the vineFalling so slowLike fragile tiny shellsDrifting in the foam
Little soldier boyCome marchin' homeBrave soldier boyComes marching home


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