# To my little angel, who would be 3 today **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 22, 2009, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-little-angel-who-would-be-3-today/511077 "2009-09-22T13:47:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-little-angel-who-would-be-3-today/511077/1 "2009-09-22T13:47:20Z")
We missed you today in the park, running through the grass and challenging the swings to touch the sky. Your silent voice was drowned by the laugher of the living. Your stillness lost in the squall of the squealing kids. If. If only. If only you would have lived on the outside and not just in our hearts, it would be us racing across the lawn, your tiny legs pumping in vain to beat the man you would still simply know as Daddy. Your proctor, playmate and protector… Over there, a sharp voice stops short a drifting daughter. Here, a skinned knee and a gentle giant bows down to pluck his crying charge from the ground. Today, families were found in full force. We were there with Beta-chan, as she drank the thrills of the park’s motion and commotion. But we weren’t alone. You came along with us, singing songs in our souls for you were the first to make us a family, leaving us in your debt forever. The interest kept in check only by never forgetting our son and always remembering to love our sweet daughter. Our tiny, brave Ian, you were with us but a day, but will dwell forever in our happy memories of our precious Pough-chan. Happy Birthday. Daddy ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-little-angel-who-would-be-3-today/511077/2 "2009-09-22T14:05:06Z")
That was neither mundane nor pointless. Beautiful and heartbraking. I am so sorry. Happy birthday Ian. ---
**Author:** ![prodicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d9b06d/32.png) [@prodicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/prodicus)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-little-angel-who-would-be-3-today/511077/3 "2009-09-22T15:04:18Z")
Happy birthday Ian. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-little-angel-who-would-be-3-today/511077/4 "2009-09-22T15:47:57Z")
Happy Birthday, Ian; sleep well. ---
**Author:** ![Dottygumdrop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Dottygumdrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dottygumdrop)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-little-angel-who-would-be-3-today/511077/5 "2009-09-22T16:12:59Z")
Happy Birthday Ian! Today I hugged my daughter a little closer because of you. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-little-angel-who-would-be-3-today/511077/6 "2009-09-22T16:13:46Z")
Happy Birthday, Ian Pough! ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-little-angel-who-would-be-3-today/511077/7 "2009-09-22T17:04:03Z")
There aren’t many writers who can make me cry. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-little-angel-who-would-be-3-today/511077/8 "2009-09-22T17:57:33Z")
Wow. I can’t believe it’s been 3 years already. One day Beta-chan will also know that love for her big brother whose life was cut short on this earth. Godspeed to you and yours, **TP**. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-little-angel-who-would-be-3-today/511077/9 "2009-09-22T19:07:44Z")
Happy Birthday to one of our smallest angels. The most innocent leave the deepest impressions on our hearts. Their memory forever yours to carry with you to eternity. ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-little-angel-who-would-be-3-today/511077/10 "2009-09-22T19:25:43Z")
Happy Birthday to Ian Pough, loved so deeply three years ago, loved so deeply today. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-little-angel-who-would-be-3-today/511077/11 "2009-09-22T19:39:45Z")
Happy birthday, little Ian. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-little-angel-who-would-be-3-today/511077/12 "2009-09-22T22:25:36Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > There aren’t many writers who can make me cry. I agree. Tokyo’s writing is like nothing I’ve ever read and it is always a pleasure to read, even the brutal life-truth stuff. ---
**Author:** ![thirdwarning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecccb3/32.png) [@thirdwarning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdwarning)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-little-angel-who-would-be-3-today/511077/13 "2009-09-22T23:57:11Z")
Happy birthday, Ian. We remember you. I read this this morning, but I couldn’t really respond then. I’m not supposed to be crying that early in the day. ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-little-angel-who-would-be-3-today/511077/14 "2009-09-23T00:21:11Z")
Happy birthday, Ian. We will always remember you. ---
**Author:** ![dragonlady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@dragonlady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragonlady)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-little-angel-who-would-be-3-today/511077/15 "2009-09-23T01:42:56Z")
Sleep sweet Ian. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-little-angel-who-would-be-3-today/511077/16 "2009-09-23T12:43:44Z")
Thank you for the people who remember. We’ve been fortunate in having another child. We attend a support group for people who lose children, and there are many who aren’t able to have another. I was just in the States, and my 10-year-old nephew drove his remote control into a lake. We talked about how hard life can be, and how many disappointments there are, but how you need to find a way to love and enjoy life anyway. He was putting on his brave face, but was close to tears and asked me if I’ve ever lost something important. Yes, I have, as I blinked away my tears. Yes I have. But I told him about the time I carelessly totaled my car when I was 16, because this this is a special story for special times. That, and 10-year-old boys can relate more to crashing cars. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-little-angel-who-would-be-3-today/511077/17 "2009-09-23T18:26:46Z")
Ian accomplished more in his short stay on Earth than a lot of people who live a long time. He touched so many of us all over the world. I wanted to respond yesterday, but found myself crying at work… Happy birthday, little one. ---
**Author:** ![thirdwarning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecccb3/32.png) [@thirdwarning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdwarning)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-little-angel-who-would-be-3-today/511077/18 "2009-09-23T19:08:00Z")
You, **TokyoPlayer** , are a good, gentle man. It’s a privilege to know you. And I am thankful that you have shared your story with us. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-little-angel-who-would-be-3-today/511077/19 "2009-09-23T19:49:13Z")
On days when I get lost and wonder what should one do to be a good man, I remember your posts, **TokyoPlayer**. If I ever get to Tokyo, allow me to treat you and your wife and daughter to a modest yet pleasing meal. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-little-angel-who-would-be-3-today/511077/20 "2009-09-23T20:26:32Z")
{{ **TokyoPlayer** }}☹ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-little-angel-who-would-be-3-today/511077.md?page=2)