Another Way To Say “I Care” . . .

birdhouseOne of the “questions” for this week’s giveaway is to share a quote that means a lot to you, and there sure have been some wonderful ones mentioned in the comments so far!

They all make you stop and think (or giggle, thanks Carol!).

I’ve been trying to decide which quote I would choose if I were to answer the question. I must confess that I do love quotations (which is probably no surprise to you regulars who read my Friday Favorites posts).

bowdivgreen

Today though, as I was thinking about my favorite, all of a sudden one popped into my mind. It’s not famous. In fact, it may never have been heard by anyone outside of my family. It’s something my father always says just as we are about to drive away after visiting him and my mother. Our seatbelts are fastened and the motor is running. The car window is open, and Dad is standing nearby. We exchange some last minute thoughts, and then as he waves goodbye, he says: “Watch out for the nuts!”

On the surface, this probably sounds pretty comical, but he means: “Be careful driving home – there are crazy drivers on the road.”

We always giggle and immediately reply: “We will!”

bowdivgreen

The thing is though… Dad is really saying something else – something he would never actually say out loud, and that is: “I love you. Don’t let anything happen to you on the way home.”

He started saying it to us years ago. Since then, my siblings and our kids have also adopted it. We say it to each other all the time as part of a goodbye.

Isn’t it funny how a silly little phrase like “Watch out for the nuts!” can mean so much.

crystal-1b3-copy-flatfullwidth


Comments

Another Way To Say “I Care” . . . — 4 Comments

  1. Sweet Crystal…

    I can’t tell you how much this just touched my heart, and brought back my own flood of memories. The way you described everyone outside saying goodbye… Your dad’s funny, but very loving, quote sounds like something my own dad would have said. What a sweet, sweet post.

    Hugs,
    Paulette 🙂

  2. Yes, that’s exactly what he meant and its great that you knew that. Men are so funny. My husband rarely says I love you, but he has his little sayings and mannerisms that tell me so.

    Watch out, the dog is laying next to the bed, said as I enter the bedroom to come to bed.

    Want me to rub some Ben Gay on your hip?

    In the morning my coffee, bagel and the paper are at my recliner, because he is the first one up in the morning.

  3. So well said. We often do take much for granted; and the older I get, the more I can truely say I am soooo blessed! Thanks for these encouraging words.

  4. Paulette, Carol, and Shelley . . .

    Each one of your comments made me misty. We are all SO lucky to have had love in our lives. Of course we KNOW that, but sometimes it’s good to remind ourselves. When you stop to think about it, you realize that nothing else really matters.

    Hugs!!!

    Crystal

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.