tony-and-liliana-delvecchio.com

https://fb.watch/rZymwvRIsx/

Don’t ever let anybody tell you otherwise.

These are just some of the many US Embassy officials, Congressmen, and government officials I met trying just to see you again. Of course, as a foreigner in Japan I was destined to fail in my efforts, but when you see your child inside a burning building you don’t ask questions — you run in to save her. I could have just walked away, but that’s not me. To be sure, I suffered grievous peresonal injuries throughout this ordeal. The scars remain to this day.

What else is a father to do?

Ueno Zoo April 19, 2003

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A little late, but Happy Valentine’s Day, Buppy.

You are always in my heart.

Love,

Dad

Dear Lili,

Well, another year has come and gone. And yet we remain apart. I guess you know that I found you on Facebook and was heartened to see that you had grown up to be a strong, beautiful, and higly-intelligent woman. I guess you also got the message I sent on Messenger. Sadly, you have disappeared from me again, and my heart cries out in sadness over this new, unexpected loss. I’m very happy now with my life — I have a wonderful, supportive wife and by extension a whole new family complete with four beautiful grandchildren. And yet, there will always be an emptiness inside — the void that exists because my onbly child is gone from me, the child that I cherished and with whom I laughed and loved and made beautiful memories. This time of year is especially tough for me, as it was always a special tiome for me and you. I miss you so much I cannot say. And my only wish for Christmas — as it has been since we parted and will be until we may meet again — is to be a family again as we once were and should be.
You are always in my heart.
Love,
Dad

P.S. I heard this piece in the movie “Maestro” for the first time, and somehow it made me think of you. It made me cry, that’s for sure.

“The past can haunt a man. That’s what they say. But the past is just a series of moments, each one perfect, complete. A bead on the necklace of time.  The past doesn’t haunt us — wouldn’t even recognize us. If there are ghosts to be found, it’s us who haunt the past. We haunt it so we can look again, see the people we miss and the things we missed about them.”

— Reminiscence

You will always be my daughter, no matter what others may have told you.
Love always,
Your Dad