Happy To Be Sad……….

[chrisinth]

This is a feel-good thread so please indulge me for a moment.

I have been living full time in Thailand for 15 years now and been privy to many wonderful moments during that time. Happily married for almost 14 of those years. Children have gone, the youngest (stepson) studying at Dusit Uni in Bkk and the eldest (stepdaughter) into network administration (IT networking before anyone starts… ). Everything rosey!

During the time my wife had her bar/restaurant, we had a few street children around the area. She befriended one of them who she would give the odd job to so that he could eat. M (the street boy) was just turned 17, disowned by his family, into the gangs, fighting, drugs, alcohol, you name it he was there. Long story short, we unofficially adopted M and gave him a home.

I only ever hit him once; this was right at the beginning, and I atoned myself a week later by having his back when he squared up to members of his old gang. I wasn’t needed and the gang never bothered him again; this was him making the necessary break. M cleaned himself up, got off the drugs and became a well liked young man by everyone he came in contact with. He stayed with us, even after we closed the bar in April and became part of the family.

We lost him today.

He is now 21 and had enlisted into the army; this is what he wanted to do. We dropped him off at city hall this morning. The reason for this post is really just to wish him all the best in his future life, and to show that people, if treated correctly, can and do change.

All the very best M!

[chrisinth]

I have just been asked by Mrs. Chrisinth if I can post the following You Tube link. This is one of her favourite songs, one she can relate to and dedicated to M.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EY0_oVV29PM

Gawd, its getting smoky in here………………..

Edit: Great song, give yourself 5 and listen to the words...............

Edited November 1, 2012 by chrisinth

[Scully]

Not really feel good, sounds quite sad

Good on you and the missus for giving someone a chance

[arthurwait]

Happy for you and the best of luck to him.

[mauGR1]

Well done mate, don't be sad !

[smokie36]

The bitterness of successful parenting.

Be proud of him....not sad.

[theblether]

Do you mind?........let Chris wallow in his sadness for a few days and in a few weeks time he'll be bursting with pride when he goes to the passing out parade.

I'll tell you what Chris, you gave someone the greatest gift you could give them.........a chance, and he repaid you by taking it.

Well done Sir, and to your loving wife too.

[onionluke]

Here's a blast for yersel Chris .

[Beetlejuice]

Do you mind?........let Chris wallow in his sadness for a few days and in a few weeks time he'll be bursting with pride when he goes to the passing out parade.

I'll tell you what Chris, you gave someone the greatest gift you could give them.........a chance, and he repaid you by taking it.

Well done Sir, and to your loving wife too.

I second everything you say.

Definately an archivement to proud of and I am sure this young man will do the OP proud as well.

So nice to hear something positive for a change.

[mrtoad]

Nice post

[farang000999]

Well done.

[jacktrip]

'we lost him' may be a poor choice of words for the occupation he is entering.

[SimonD]

'M'? Hmm...

Maybe a career in the Thai Secret Service awaits?

Good luck to him.

[Rob8891]

'we lost him' may be a poor choice of words for the occupation he is entering.

What an idiotic post, but at least it is in character.

Chrisinth, congratulations. You have every right to feel proud. The world needs people with your attitude.

[WilliaminBKK]

Thank you for sharing, made my day.

[endure]

I have to say that the OP's post made me ever so slightly weepy. Every now and then you see something somewhere that makes you realise just how wonderful people can be. Thank you for making the effort to raise a splendid young man. Let's hope he's as big a credit to you as you are to him.

[Berkshire]

Wow, heartwarming. You've done good, Chris.

[chrisinth]

Guys, thanks for all the positive posts & the PM's(even from jacktrip, I understand that), really don't know what to say as I wasn't expecting such a reaction.

The message in the OP was really that a little warmth and caring in the right place goes a long way. It was not meant as a boast if anyone is thinking that, it is something that simply happened.

We are obviously sad in that we will certainly miss M's company, but we are more proud of the young guy that he has made it through the bad times he has endured in his adolesent life and has the courage to do what he is doing (he enlisted instead of taking the draw).

Anyway, the flip side of this is that I now have to take the dogs for their 5km walk/run every day. Another thing that I didn't mention was his bond with our two siberian huskies; he really did become the alpha there! They are confused as hell at the moment as to where he is!

And last line to Williaminbkk, post your PM, I think people would be touched by that as well............

[rijb]

Sounds like you and your wife saved his life. And he is paying you back by living it well. Nice.

[WilliaminBKK]

Gawd, I wanted to say to Chris in a PM his effort does make a difference and his post is about his success.

Hi Chris,

Your message made my day, thank you for sharing.

I didn't want to hijack your thread but thought I'd share a story.

In Canada my Parents took in a 16 year Aboriginal young boy (Samuel) who sounds a lot like your adopted son. He was also in a bad situation with drugs & crime. My Parents cared and showed him tough love for 5 years and then sent him to college to train as a chef, he graduated when he was 24. If it wasn't for people like you who knows how things would be for these kids.

Last month Sam called & said it is Mum & Dad's 50th Anniversary next year and you better be here, no excuses...we are planning this and that- it made me so proud that we share the same Parents.

Finally I should add when Sam was 16 & came to stay with us that was in 1980 & I was also 16 so he's not only my Brother he's Family.

Best to You and your Wife & M.

William

[SteeleJoe]

For the moment all I can say is...KUDOS. You should be proud of him but proud of yourselves too.

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa ap

[kevjohn]

The OP and his wife certainly do have something to be proud of.

Not only have you helped this young man onto the strait and narrow but, in turn,

this young man could quite well do the same for someone less fortunate and, who is to say, when it will stop.

[guzzi850m2]

Sounds like you and your wife saved his life. And he is paying you back by living it well. Nice.

+1, well done Mr Chris & wife, you gave the young man a push in the right direction and that was all it takes to turn his life around

[SteeleJoe]

William, thanks for that story. I'm glad you were encouraged to tell it and did.

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa ap

[Rsquared]

Thanks Chris, it is good to know that there are still very decent people out there.

Congratulations to you and your wife, as you have done what most people would not bother to give a moments thought to help someone in need.

.......and ditto to all the posts above.

[Songhua]

Heartwarming story.

All the best to M with his service and his journey from there on.

You, OP and family, are an inspiration to others in these modern times.

As anyone with grown kids will tell you, THE single greatest thing a parent can experience in life is knowing that their efforts and sacrifices over the years have put their kids on the right path. Good people like you however, will never see it as 'sacrifice'.

(btw, you don't lose them .... they keep coming back! lol)