Grab the tissues....

So on my way to work yesterday morning they read this poem. By the second line of the poem I was already in tears. I guess I'll post the poem first and then tell you my feelings....

Dear World:
I bequeath to you today one little girl... in a crispy dress… with two blue eyes... and a happy laugh that ripples all day long... and a flash of light blond hair that bounces in the sun when she runs. I trust you'll treat her well.

She's slipping out of the backyard of my heart this morning...and skipping off down the street to her first day of school. And never again will she be completely mine. Prim and proud she'll wave her young and independent hand this morning and say "Goodbye" and walk with little lady steps to the schoolhouse.

Now she'll learn to stand in lines... and wait by the alphabet for hername to be called. She'll learn to tune her ears for the sounds of school bells... and deadlines... and she'll learn to giggle... and gossip...and look at the ceiling in a disinterested way when the little boy 'cross the aisle sticks out his tongue at her. And, now she'll learn to be jealous. And now she'll learn how it is to feel hurt inside. And now she'll learn how not to cry.

No longer will she have time to sit on the front porch steps on a summer day and watch an ant scurry across the crack in the sidewalk. Nor will she have time to pop out of bed with the dawn and kiss lilac blooms in the morning dew. No, now she'll worry about those important things... like grades and which dress to wear and whose best friendis whose. And the magic of books and learning will replace the magic of her blocks and dolls. And now she'll find new heroes.

For five full years now I've been her sage and Santa Claus and pal and playmate and father and friend. Now she'll learn to share her worship with her teachers... which is only right. But, no longer will I be the smartest, greatest man in the whole world. Today when that school bell rings for the first time...she'll learn what it means to be a member of the group...with all its privileges and its disadvantages too.

She'll learn in time that proper young ladies do not laugh out loud... or kiss dogs... or keep frogs in pickle jars in bedrooms... or even watch ants scurry across cracks in sidewalks in the summer.

Today she'll learn for the first time that all who smile at her are not her friends. And I'll stand on the front porch and watch her start out on the long, lonely journey to becoming a woman.

So, world, I bequeath to you today one little girl... in a crispy dress... with two blue eyes...and a flash of light blond hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs. I trust you'll treat her well.

- Victor Buono

So ya I balled. Well then to top the morning off they played butterfly kisses and that's a guaranteed tear jerker. For the past two days I've been thinking about this poem. I realize that my baby girl is growing up and there's nothing to do about it but it still makes me sad. I love the age that she's at now. I love all the silly things she comes up with and how innocent everything is. I think starting school (yes I know it's still years away) is going to be alot harder than I ever imagined. It's the first step that my baby is really and truely growing up. So I've decided to really make everyday worth it. Play the silly games she wants to play, go jump on the trampoline when it's 110 outside.
The day before I heard this poem we had gone to the doctor. On our way the sky was kinda cloudy but then again it had been for a few days. I didn't think anything of it. We went inside and by time we were finished it was down pouring. I never have an umbrella when I need it, that would be way too convenient. So we sat on the porch of the building waiting for it to let up a little. And when I could tell we'd be standing there all day Em said let's go mommy let's run in the rain. At first I dredded the idea of getting soaked from head to toe. Not to mention I still had to put her in the car first then run around and get in. Well I could say no to her eager little face. So we ran in the rain. She tought it was the best thing ever. We got in the car soaking wet and she said Mommy that was so much fun lets do it again!! She giggled about it the whole way home. It's times like that that makes everything worth it.
I know one day she's not going to want to run in the rain with me or hide under the covers. I know I won't always be her best friend and the one she turns to when she is upset and I think that's the part that makes me sad. I want to always be the center of her world that can do no wrong. So I'm going to start cherishing more of the good stuff.