A Million Tears (part 3)

Anyway, Kara feverishly prepared for her trip all day yesterday, but when it came time for her to actually leave today, it seemed to come upon me suddenly. I gave her a hug and was determined not to become emotional at our parting. I simply said, “Have a good trip!” No problem, right? Then I had to push my luck. I tried to say, “Give my love to Coley” but the emotion choked off the words midway through.

A Million Tears (part 4)

But know what? I’m not going to blame that on a neurologic condition. I’m not going to apologize for crying today. I have adored that girl for twenty years, and it is just a little hard sometimes, OK? If tears are an indicator of sentimentality and love, then I held back a million today.

I'm in love

Whenever someone says, "Oh, that was totally predictable" I have to admit that I seldom predict it. I take what I am seeing or hearing at face value. I don't see it coming.

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And so it was the other day when I found myself listening to a country tune. I rarely listen to country, or even pay attention when I overhear it, but this song's lyrics piqued my interest. The chorus featured a deep-voiced, classic country dude singing, "I'm in love with a married woman." (which is also the song's title.) Lyrics like "rendezvous" and "dark corners" hinted at an extramarital affair.

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I fell for it, and was kind of bothered by the theme of infidelity. If any man fell in love with Kara, why I'd... Thinking about Kara, I realized an irony: I was in love with a married woman too! Even with this thought I was still caught off-guard when the chorus took a sharp turn toward commendable.

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If you are unfamiliar with the song, it goes:

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"And on her left hand

there's a weddin' band

she wears faithfully

and I thank God

she's married to me."

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Awwwwww. I did NOT see that coming. I love that song now! Way to go, country dude! (If I could sing I would totally sing it to Kara.)

Dancing By Myself

When talking to our college daughter on the phone, Kara and I have a hard time getting a word in. Amanda has a curious habit of speaking rapidly and without pause for extended periods. She is usually just so excited about everything.

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Unrelated to this, one of our phone handsets has been spontaneously turning off with no warning, even when fully charged.

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Combining this two phenomena as occurred the other night, you get Amanda speaking for ten minutes with no one hearing.

Impromptu

As we gathered for family prayer last night, Natalie began singing some popular song. Erika started singing harmony and then Ryan started chiming in some back-up vocals. It was impromptu magnificence.

Top 10

I recently penned a Top 10 list for Ryan of memories that we’ve shared. There is no way to really objectively measure, but they brought a smile to my face. Over lunch with Erika, I mentioned this list. She then asked, “What would be on my list?” I rattled off a few highlights and told her that many other ones were when she was only three or four. She wanted me to recount them to her anyway and I did. We had a nice time.

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This evening as she was waiting for her ride to dance class, she was at the piano with Les Miserables music. She does not play, but was trying to pick out the melody to “I Dreamed a Dream.” I don’t really play either, but I could play the chords. My hope was that she wanted to sing and sure enough, she happily yielded her spot at the piano and began to sing along. What a song! What a voice! That girl was born to sing.

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The last word in the phrase “…as they turn your dream to shame” starts at an E flat and steps up five notes to a B flat over three measures. She. Nailed. It.

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I officially have a new entry for the Erika-Dad Top Ten list.

Tooth Fairy

Sunday (I believe) Natalie lost a tooth. Tuesday morning she sounded disappointed.

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She said, "The Tooth Fairy didn't come again! I even reminded Mom last night."

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I told her that unless she took payment via credit card, she was reminding the wrong Tooth Fairy. (I have done T.F. duties since 1996 and suggested that she wait one more night.)

Trip to Hawaii

My brother got married last week in Hawaii so I spent four days on O'ahu. It was a very nice break from winter. Here are a few thoughts from my trip:

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1. Regarding my non-stop 8-hour flight from Dallas, if there were any opponents to public breastfeeding on board when we took off, I am certain that there were none when we landed. There were two infants that were only silenced by (1) food or (2) hearing the other baby screaming. I have been in the position of flying with an infant and I know the flight was much longer for the parents than for the rest of us.

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2. Sunday we attended a student ward at BYU Hawaii. Some Polynesian guys were wearing lava lavas and flip flops. I was mildly envious.

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3. Just before the Sunday meetings began, I met my brother's fiancee Heather. She is delightful. I understand that she is quite a singer and I was looking forward to hearing her singing voice. Unfortunately, she was seated in front of me so I couldn't really hear her. However, while I was straining to hear my future sister-in-law, I realized I could hear my current one who was sitting near me. Man, my brothers' wives can sing!

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4. There were seven of us staying at a 3-bedroom villa in Laie. Because I was traveling without Kara, I was assigned to share a queen-size bed with my sister. I hadn't shared a bed with her since she was six. It was Christmas Eve so all the siblings camped out together. Unfortunately, back in 1977 Amy got sick and threw up in my bed. I told her that after 33 years I was willing to give her another chance, but if she vomited again, I was out. That was her ticket to having to room to herself. Fortunately, no sickness this time. (On a related note, as we all entered the Polynesian Cultural Center together, the workers assumed Amy and I were a couple and started to line us up for a photo. As soon as I realized what they were doing, I stopped them saying, "This isn't my wife; she is just the woman I am sleeping with!")

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5. One of the first nights I was there, my mother (who I see rarely these days) gave me a hug and told me that she loved me. I replied unceremoniously, "I know." Just what every mother longs to hear, but it was true! In fact, I realized that the fact that she loves me is probably the first truth that I ever learned, and it has never waned for a moment. But it is still good to hear it. I love you too Mom.