The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no l
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Taking Megan Dancing
This year, at the Sweetheart dance The big time Brownie dad & daughter gig, Megan was so lovely In her lacey dress and curly hair that actually stayed curly all night Imagine that.
I was proud to be her date. Proud to be her daddy. Ecstatic to see her smiling as we danced. To hold her hand, spin and dip. Make her laugh. I saw her looking around occasionally, then back at me Was she showing me off? No, I was showing her off. Girl giggles and silliness I love it.
Who were these other slugs pretending to be comfortable in tiny cafeteria chairs while their daughters begged them to dance?
One little girl sat down on the rear bench and cried her eyes out
I wanted to find the man who was here somewhere pretending to be her dad and ask him What the hell is wrong with you? Don't you know she'll be grown & gone in far less time than you've spent breaking her heart tonight?
I was wishing we could take her home with us. Foolish fathers.
We have no idea sometimes how "life & death" these things feel to our little ones.
But we should.
Weren't we all young once?
There was another little girl who had no dad to take her. D had said Why don't you take her with you and Megan
Megan got upset She's not ready to share her dad with anyone.
She got teary eyed and said But, he's MY dad. It hurts my heart just to think about it.
So sweet, so sad, so tender So full of this buzzing, burning vitality that it splashes all over my adult life. Placing your heart in the hands of a child is a fearsome and wonderous thing.
They can't hurt it, though. They've not yet been taught how.
I think that little girl got her grandpa to take her At least Grandpa got up and danced. He already knew what I'm learning, I'll bet.
That it's just so nice to have this time. Time that will surely fly faster than we foolish mortals ever suspect... Then she won't want to hang out with dad anymore. That's OK. I can handle it (I think I hope I pray I'll try)
Her older sister went through it. Had to become her own self.
It's the independence thing Gotta separate from Mom & Dad in order to be your own person. Cool Go for it With my blessing It's all part of growing up.
But for now, let's enjoy this dance.
(1994)
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