This morning on NPR I heard an installment of its weekly "Storycorps" series in which a son, EJ Miller, interviewed his Brooklyn-born dad Ed Miller about becoming a father.

I'm not ashamed to say it brought tears to my eyes when Miller's advice to young fathers was treasure every second of the time that you are able to light up your child's world.

He explained how his heart aches when he sees dads at the mall holding their children's hands; how it reminds him of when his kids were young and how much he misses that.

Happily, I have always taken Ed Miller's advice, even before I'd heard it, and I have no plans of stopping anytime soon.

When Miller's son -- choking up -- told him, and I paraphrase, "you're my hero, Dad. You're what I think of when I think of what it means to be a good man." And I darn near fell apart. Luckily for the other drivers on the road, I remained composed, however.

I've tried to do lots of things in life, but if my son ever says that about me, I will know I have not squandered my time on Earth.