I spoke to a stranger at the restaurant where I had lunch today. Seated in a corner booth, he was about 30 and had his newborn daughter with him in a baby carrier.
Going out in public with an infant gives everyone else license to speak to you and give you advice. It's an unwritten rule that countermands the normal etiquette of minding your own business.
So I made my comment as I passed by. "Beautiful daughter you have there". He smiled. "Watch out, they grow up fast" I concluded as I made my way to my seat. Once seated, I thought of my own daughter. For a few moments, my mind forwarded through a mental slide show of scenes as she was growing up.
There was a baby dedication at church in California , video of her first birthday, a chubby-legged soccer player and a cute 5 year old dance performer. Then came her first piano recital, complete with butterflies in the tummy; Dad's tummy.
There were the drives to school and laughing together at random ideas taken to ridiculous extremes. "To speed the carpool lane up, what if they put out a big net? Then parents could drive through at full speed and the kids could just jump out into the net!"
There was her first date, her first performance of her own original music and, too quickly, her first day of school as a senior in High School. The arrival of my food brought me back to the present.
Turning slightly I glanced back at the booth in the corner. I noticed a man in his mid forties. Seated across from him was a beautiful teenage girl. There is no doubt that she was his daughter. She had some of his facial features and they talked and laughed the way dads and daughters are supposed to. The man looked up and we made eye contact. They grow up fast indeed.
Steve, you tugged at my heartstrings. I have two grown daughters and am amazed at how quickly the time passed. I remember being anxious for the next phase of their lives. Now, I have a young grandson and am leisurely swimming in the delight of each new day. No hurry here! Thanks for sharing.
I cherished your memories with you as I read this. Thank you for sharing. I was almost moved to tears thinking about my dad and how much I miss him. He would have agreed with you. "They grow up fast indeed."
Thanks Avis. I miss my Dad too. I was thinking about him this morning. He's been gone for 13 years. That time has passed quickly too. And thanks for the blessings!
Thanks Nancy. And just to clarify... it was "older folks" that used to make the comments but you and I do it because we see the value in it, even as young adults... right?
» left by Sharon from Oklahoma City, OK (81 days 19 hours ago.)
Steve,
Thanks for having a true Daddy's heart...and for writing your "sappy" article! I feel the same way about my two girls...like their lives are in fast-forward and I just can't keep up storing the memories in my heart.
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