This is my son Matthew’s last night at home before college. I know that this is good news. I feel proud that Matthew will go to a great school. I know that this is the finest hour. But looking at the suitcases on his bed sends me out of the room to a hidden corner where I can’t stop crying.

Through the sorrow, I feel embarrassed. “Pull yourself together!” I tell myself. There are parents sending their kids off to battle zones. How dare I feel so shocked and upset?

One of the great gifts of my life has been having my boys, Matthew and John Owen. Through them, I have explored the mysterious, complicated bond between fathers and sons. As my wife and I raised them, I have discovered the love and loss between my father and me. After my parents’ divorce, I spent weekends with my dad in Ohio. By the time Sunday came around, I was unable to enjoy the day’s activities because I was already afraid of the goodbye of the evening.

Now, standing among Matthew’s accumulation of possessions, I realize it’s me who has become a boy again. All my sadness and longing to hold on to things are back, sweeping over me as they did when I was a child.

His bed is tidy and spare. It already has the feel of a guest bed. In my mind I replay wrapping him in his favorite blanket. That was our nightly routine until one evening he said, “Daddy, I don’t think I need a blanket tonight.” I think of all the times we lay among the covers reading. I look at the bed and think of all the recent times I was annoyed at how late he was going to sleep. I’ll never have to worry about that again, I realize.

For his part, Matthew has been a rock. He is treating his leaving as just another day at the office. And I’m glad. After all, someone’s got to be strong. I’m proud that he is charging into the first chapter of his adult life with such conf idence.

Italy’s cheap old homes continue to appeal to hundreds of interested buyers, among whom was Roy Patrick, a 67-year-old British who deals in antiques in Italy. Patrick bought an old school house in the mountain village of Carrega for $16,500. It’s both an adventure and a joy.

Patrick bought the property quite by accident. When told about the wonders of the village, he toured there to take a look and was instantly struck by the 1930s school building. “The house is particular and the view is unique: The way the sun goes down over the mountains, you’d say ‘wow’. It’s a fantastic wonderland,” says Patrick.

The property was offloaded by the local government to boost the populations of communities in decline. Since the purchase, he’s been visiting every two weeks and finds it has many charms. “Top of the list is the friendliness of the local residents, followed by the breathtaking views I get out of the windows looking across the valley,” he adds.

Patrick’s initial encounter with his new home was less than promising. He had to climb through a window to open up the building, which had been shut for decades and whose door was jammed, with the keys nowhere to be found.

However, a later structural disaster turned into a positive story. When an unstable chimney (烟囱) collapsed due to a heavy snow, a neighbor volunteered to climb onto his roof to make it safe. The locals are so welcoming that they are ready to help newcomers.

During the restoration needed to make the old school habitable, Patrick unexpectedly unearthed a great many treasures: dusty piles of old text books, inkwells, pupil registers and other historical items.

Patrick has some advice for those with the thought of buying a house in Carrega: There is absolutely nothing, just great views, pure air and clean surroundings. No bars, supermarkets, or restaurants. A vehicle is essential to move around. However, Carrega does spring to life in the summer when vacationers arrive to relax. “There are nights when people throw a party with loud music,” says Patrick. “Otherwise it’s just singing birds and total silence.”

Every morning, rain or shine, Ryder Kilam heads to the bus stop to wait for the bus to take him to school. But Ryder isn’t a typical kid—he lives his life in a wheelchair. Sometimes life gets a little challenging because he can’t wait inside and then run out to the bus when it comes. In his wheelchair, he had to be exposed to the rain, the wind, and the cold. His parents had created a shelter but it wasn't very strong and fell apart.

Ryder’s parents decided they would need to build a new shelter. But they had neither the resources nor the skill needed for the project. That's when Ryder’s dad, Tim, decided they should put a post online to see if anyone could help. The post caught the attention of a Construction Technology teacher, Dan McKena. He said they had done other similar projects before. It was very important for his students to learn not only the construction but being involved in the community dealing with people outside of the school environment. He was very surprised and grateful when three classes volunteered.

The students all worked together for a common goal and they really enjoyed knowing the end result and knowing where it’s going. This included a senior by the name of Mason Heald. He decided to make the shelter his senior project.

After weeks of work, the students finally completed the shelter. Now, Ryder Kilam has a warm and strong place to wait for the bus every morning. Life just got a little sweeter for him but this story is just a lovely reminder of how beautiful humanity can be when we help each other.