Tracy Chapman sings a song with these lyrics. They made me think of my own life. when I was a little girl, my fathers arms around my shoulders equaling strength and resolve, warmth and love. The quest I endlessly rode the rails of, was to get my fathers attention, his love and pride. He was an ex marine, and very strict and disciplined and regimented. He fooled around plenty, and joke and teased, but there was a time and a place for everything, and if it was time to sit still and be quiet, that's what we needed to do.
No matter what the reason, once his big strong arms were around me, I was at my journey's end. I had made it. I was safe. I was loved by my father, such an important thing to me. He was a man who acquired respect from those who knew him. He wasn't out to hurt anybody, just to do his job, and come home to his family.
There were other times I was sad or depressed or hurt, and I would go to my mom. We'd talk, and she'd tell me to come lie next to her on the couch, and she'd cover us both with an afghan, and put her arms around me, and once again, I was at my journey's end. There's no place I could have been during those times that would have ever been as comforting. I had come to the end of my road.
Years went by and life happened and I got back together with my childhood sweetheart after twenty three years, and we've tried very hard to raise and guide five kids between us. It hasn't been easy. We want them all to have the right strengths and hopes and dreams, while having the stamina and resilience to reach those dreams. Honesty and compassion and humility and faith, are all traits we have tried to pass down, and I think we managed to do that.
When my partner has his arms around me, I feel whole, I can feel my strength and hope and envision my ideas for the future. I feel safe and warm and at home.
My journey has come to an end.
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