Learning How to Say "I Love You"

I first started sending this essay out in early 2016. I was pretty confident it would get accepted quickly; and with that confidence propelling me, I submitted it to the New York Times’ Modern Love and waited for a response.

Nine months later, I was still waiting. In December I finally received one — a form rejection.

Once I had picked myself back up, I started sending it out again. And again. And again. It took more than three years to find a home for this piece, but I finally did.

As for saying “I love you,” I still suck at it. But who knows, maybe someday my practice will finally pay off.

My father circa 1965.