Daddy's Girl-In Memory

When you are young there  is no one as strong, as wise ,as protective as your dad.
You put your tiny hand in his and it is engulfed in strength and you feel so safe.      

But now he lies hooked up to wires and tubes and a machine to help him breathe
and you want to make him feel as safe as that long ago time  and tell him things are going to
be alright. You want to hold his frail body and comfort him as he did for you.
You want to etch his face into your mind  to keep forever there because you know
he is slipping away and nothing  can stop him from going  from you. You can cry and beg for precious time,
you can scream inside from the pain that sears your heart, but you know it is all in vain.

When you are a teen you know everything and your dad is so old fashioned and you hate the rules imposed
on you. How could he possibly know what you feel. He is just an impediment, an obstacle in your
way to all the things you want to do. You are young and you wear a cloak of invincibility
that protects you from all harm.  You are young and smart and there's nothing you can't do.
You scream and argue and  in your anger say terrible things. The words are as painful as a slap
but why should you care.You deserve your way.

You can't take back the things you say  and they haunt you today. You can only know how much love
was there to keep you safe because he cared in a way only a dad can do and he was always there for you.
You have to leave your dad's side and pray to God that  through everything you are still Daddy's girl and he knows it too.

<My dad passed away on January 16, 2009. I miss him so much.>