Happy Father's Day

Nine years ago, for my Dad's 50th birthday, I wrote him a poem and had it mounted with some pictures of us. The sentiments I wrote then haven't changed, and since the framed poem was the only copy still in existence, I thought I'd share it here to tell my dad Happy Father's Day.

Daddy's Girl
If you are a newborn baby
and your eighteen year old father
rushes home from school
wanting nothing more than to
hold your tiny delicateness...
                     You must be a daddy's girl.


If you are a toddler
and your best idea of fun
is to lie, butt in the air, across
a strong sturdy lap
and watch Sesame Street...
                     You must be a daddy's girl.


If you are a small child 
and you dress up 
for a date to the movies
with the most handsome 
man on the planet...
                   You must be a daddy's girl.


If you are an adolescent
sick in the hospital
with a Trivial Pursuit buddy
at your bedside every day
(even though he never wins)
and with tears in your eyes 
at night when he's gone...
                     You must be a daddy's girl.


If you are a college freshman 
who call crying almost hysterically
for a ride home
at 2 in the morning
from a house you can't
give directions to
and someone is there
faster than is possible...
                   You must be a daddy's girl.


If you are a college sophomore
who calls home late at night
just to hear that certain voice
because you saw a sad movie
about a dad who died...
                     You must be a daddy's girl.


If you are a young bride 
walked down the aisle
by your hero
who also happens to be 
your personal photographer...
                    You must be a daddy's girl.

If you are a new mom 
whose precious baby daughter
prefers the rocking of Papa
to her own mother...
                     You must be a daddy's girl
                     Who has just taken 
                     A backseat to Papa's girl.


If you are a second time mom
with your father's calming 
presence next to you
in the waiting room
as your baby undergoes
three hours of surgery...
                     You must be a daddy's girl.


If you have a man 
that buys you Mother's Day gifts
and he isn't your husband...
                    You must be a daddy's girl.


If you have a man that will
give everything to you
do anything for you
ask nothing from you
                     You must be the luckiest daddy's girl in the world.
                     You must be the daughter of the world's best father.
                     And you must thank heaven for him every day.
                     I do.


Happy Father's Day, daddy, with much love from your Daddy's Girl.