I saw a short interview with Sidney Poitier this morning.  He has a new book coming out, letters to his great granddaughter.  He was talking about how he chose which movie to make and he said he made 56 movies, but accepted none of them before he passed them by his father.  Even after his father was “long gone” he said, he passed the movie ideas by his dad.  And then his eyes filled up and his throat closed and he raised his hands, suddenly vulnerable, and then folded them in his lap.  He took a deep breath and said he did this so that he never made a movie that would dishonor his father’s values. 

I found this so touching, that he could be overcome by the memory of his father even after so many years.  Mr. Poitier is 81 years old and thoughts of his father immediately bring tears to his eyes.  The bond between them is still strong.  That’s heartening to realize because sometimes in the fury of the day I wonder if I am losing that connection with my own father.  This morning, with tears in my own eyes I know I never will.