Daddy-Daughter Day

A few days ago I took each daughter (separately) on what has come to be known as "Daddy-Daughter Day."

Components of a D.D.D.:

Walking

Holding hands

Going into any store she chooses

Buying sweets (candy)

Drinking hot chocolate

Eating at least one ice cream cone

Talking

Riding for at least half the time on Daddy's shoulders (Zoe has a habit of exclaiming to passers-by, "I'm taller than you!" as we walk by them)

Handling dresses and picking up ballerina outfits and using words like "Oooh," and "Wow!" and "You make that dress look incredible."

Pointing out weird people to each other

Dancing at least once to a bagpiper (there's one on most corners downtown these days)

Staring into each other's eyes and saying "I love you" every chance we get.

The great thing about Edinburgh is that you don't have to load into a car to go to a mall to experience time with your daughter!

You just walk and talk and window shop and enjoy each other.

With that said, its amazing how different the two of them are.

Lily was all about checking out the stores with beads, bracelets, earrings, head bands, dresses and so on.

Zoe just wanted ice cream, and the topic kept coming up every minute or so until we got some. Of course, by then, she had also eaten fries, so the ice cream sat in the cup, melting slowly, slopping all over Dad's hand as he carried it through the crowds hoping that she would want to eat it at some point--every parent hates to waste an uneaten ice cream!

I often wonder what Dads can give little girls. According to many people these days, we're not really necessary. Little girls can get along without us.

But. . . .

Who would run out to the playground and threaten bodily harm to the child that just pushed you over? Mom? She would look funny doing it.

Who would sweep you off your feet and hold you in a crowd of strangers and tell you, "Its okay. I've got you"?

Who would look at you and say these precious words: "YOU make that dress look beautiful!"? (not, "that dress makes you look beautiful.") After all, I've seen you running around like Eve in the garden, and you ARE beautiful without any dress at all.

Who would carry you for hours on his shoulders when you're tired?

Who will grab you as you fall from the bike, a 1/2 second before your knee scrapes across the pavement?

Who would take the brunt of life squarely on his chin so you can play with your friends, go to school, make 5-hour long phone calls, and do all the other things that little girls do?

Who will be the mirror -- by patient presence reflects your inner beauty back to you. A beauty not built on what boys think, or built on what the World tells you you should be, or even what your friends think about you. . . .

I'm not patting myself on the back.

More like reminding myself that my purpose is essential, not secondary. Mom builds the shelter and the roof of love in your life. But I'll be the foundation. And because I'm just a silly, absent-minded man, I forget that sometimes, and need reminding.

So here's to Daddy-Daughter Day!

And all the daddys out there makin' it happen, or any daddys that need a little remindin'.

Dust