The Family (Or most of them)
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The Family
June 24, 2006
SHE'S PRICELESS...AN EXPENSIVE PRICELESS
THE picture doesn't necessarily do her justice, but this is my lovely daughter.
It seems like only yesterday that I was finally throwing out the soother she would never surrender, holding her at 4 a.m. because of her colic, swinging her round and round the way dads do because their kids ask them to -- and dislocating her shoulder.
Today, just recently turned 18, she's a mere few days away from Grade 12 graduation, an Honours student, already accepted into first year university with scholarships, and trying to sink her now-single father into bankruptcy...like, To Dad, with Love.
Not really. And I do it lovingly.
But in the past six months, being the extraordinarily organized femme fatale that she is, she has assigned to me the grad-related monetary tasks as follows for her big night Tuesday of finally advancing past high school and into a new stage of her life:
1. Grad purse? Dad, $50.
2. Grad shoes? Dad, $75.
3. Grad pearl necklace? Dad, $375 (gulp, I went hog wild)
4. Grad earrings? Dad, $65.
4. Grad fundraising projects? Dad. Sell chocolates, sell baking goods, sell coupon books, finance band trip. Predictably, I simply bought all of these goods myself rather than find the time to try to peddle them to others. Estimated cost to self: $500.
5. Grad pictures? Dad, around $200.
Other:
A. An idea was floating around I would give her my car as a graduation gift. Uh, no.
B. Today, I bought her a heart-shaped pendant/locket thingy that can be inscribed and hold her pic in it ("Silver, dad, not gold"). Around $350.
C. Sigh. Probably, at some point, she'll get the car too...
I'm sure I'm forgetting half the things I should be mentioning. Of course, this cost is a pittance in relation to the importance my daughter holds in my life and, even more, the importance that this day will hold in her life.
I'll be sitting there at the grad reception/dinner Tuesday night, contemplating how that little soother-sucking ball of a bawling baby could have so quickly morphed into the confident, vibrant being she is now.
And my chest will be pumped out just a little bit more than usual...even though my wallet will be considerably lighter.
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(heavy sigh) luverly
ReplyDeleteI read through this earlier, and then had to find my photo album. You gave me an instant flashback.
I don't remember the party I went to after the graduation ceremony. Or which friends walked beside me.
But I remember the way my father's arm felt, wrapped around my waist, as we posed for one the million pre-requisite family photos. Looking at the pic, you can see him squeezing not me, but the memory of me as a mile-a-minute-babbling toddler in his arms.
His focus is locked on my face as he literally has my back. My focus is dead ahead, looking out (and to the future). Whether you and your daughter have the same pose captured in your photo album, I'm certain the feelings are.
I'm also certain that one day in the future, which will also feel like time warp speed, she will look back and tell you the thing she remembers most about her graduation: your pride, support, and love.
Contrats to you and your lovely daughter! -Lady
I can really relate to this. She's a veritable credit to you, and it sounds like you've got very good credit x
ReplyDeleteLady:
ReplyDeleteYeah, there'll be lots of posing for sure and plenty of partying afterwards, which I assured her will not include me because this is her night, her life.
I can only hope the kind of experience you describe as your own is somewhat replicated Tuesday and in years to come when we both look back at it
...
Cherry Pie,
Thx for dropping in, love your site.
As you fully get, there's so much more than THAT kind of credit invested.
And so many more important rewards to reap as the years go by.
Cheers
She's beautiful!! And a real credit to you and your parenting.
ReplyDeleteYes, they do most certainly lighten our wallets, but they fill our hearts at the same time.
What a mush!
ReplyDeleteSince I know your little precious I can attest to all of this well deserved fatherly gushing. It is amazing how daughters can turn us into such little bowls of jello?!
Apparently most young ladies model their love interest after their Dad's good points.
Hopefully, if she's lucky, she'll get 'stuck' with some mushball, responsible, straight shooter, impossibly handsome (OK she can do better, think about your grandkids, the odds of your mug escaping 2 generations is highly unlikely)where was I,Oh yeah... generous, intelligent, nice guy like you to compliment her formidably tenacious entity.
Look Out World, here she comes....
HEY! Gushing's good, man!
ReplyDeleteShe can never do better than me. But seeing as she'll just have to try, let's hope she finds something close...
JUST KIDDING! Thanks HE.