Good day to you, friends, this is your Captain speaking!
Hold up. Now before any of you start thinking I’m getting ahead of myself in self-proclaiming that I am a “Captain” let me explain. “Team Captain” is really more my style, but the term originated from a certain 3, 4, 5, AND NOW ALMOST 6 year-old little girl the day I was reading her a story while she was in my lap. Her head was on my shoulder; she looked up at me and said, “Daddy, you’re Captain Daddy,” ….and that was it. Yes, Captain Daddy indeed, steering a ship of incalculable possibilities with limitless potential and endless fun…Captain Daddy. Not only looks good on the screen, but a darn good way to pass the time! So,
as you can imagine, and certainly if you’ve followed me for any period of time all social media over the years, you know of the deep absolute complete and total love I have for my little girl, Sophie, #sophistication … my one and only, my baby girl that will STAY 2, I mean 3, I mean 4, wait, 5..stopping there…FINE 6 BUT THAT’S IT! It’s unbelievable the speed of life, how slowly it sometimes can feel, but in reality it’s just a blink of an eye in the grand scheme of things. And, how we spend the time with the ones we love in-between those blinks is what makes us or breaks us, sometimes both. I can say that the last 6 years with my precious little package that arrived March 7, 2015 has been life-changing, fulfilling, and absolutely incredible, and nothing like I could have ever imagined, yet so natural. To say Sophie “changed” me is always a bit of a struggle for me to wrap my head around, but I suppose it’s true. Changed, but in all the ways that needed changed, or adjusted, or re-formatted, or re-booted–we all need a cntrl-alt-del from time to time, right? (Look at that…6 months on a PC and I’m already cracking Windows jokes…*eye roll*) But yes, she changed me and continues to change me as I learn more about her, bless her heart, her Daddy’s daughter through and through, and that whole apple falling from the tree analogy holds pretty consistent here and well, all I can say is I will be right beside her whenever she wants me to be (and maybe sometimes when she doesn’t but I will try to keep that to a minimum) and look forward to our continued journey through Daddy/Daughter land.
Daddy Daughter Land
If there was such a place, called Daddy Daughter Land,
You would ride in on unicorns, galloping through sand,
on the shore of a beach, where there’s a stage with a band,
Playing those Daddy Daughter tunes, throughout Daddy Daughter Land.
Yes, my Sophie turns 6-years-old this Sunday. March 7 is a special day, very special indeed. Unique too! It is also my Dad’s birthday! (Also, I might add, “he called it” some 6 years ago, “Yep, she’s going to be born on my birthday,” aaaaand she was!) Anyway, it’s also Dad’s birthday, and I won’t disclose his age, but let’s just say our next round of golf, he’ll be hitting from the yellow tees, and he reminds me of this every chance he gets.) I think it’s pretty cool they have the same birthday, and I’m pretty sure they dig it as well.
So, yes, March 7th is a very special day and I look forward to it every year. I also get a little anxious. I realize how quickly 6 months turns into 6, 16, 26…(then 41, right Mom?) But, I am going into each new year as bonus footage never before seen, the next chapter, the next season….I’m excited. I’m excited to see this little peanut grow and sprout and learn and explore and laugh ….(and all the other stuff that isn’t fun too…I’ll be there, but this post ends in smiles and maybe watery eyes, jury’s still out on that one, heck I’m still typing!) It’s amazing to see a human grow, like to be this close to a human and literally, before your very eyes, SEE, HEAR, & SMELL them grow!
For her birthday this year, I was excited to welcome in the next chapter of “parent assembly/installation” into the fold. I thought the big Barbie Princess castle that she got for Christmas might tide us over in having to assemble anything for a bit, but I, of course, was wrong. Soph’s into dance, gymnastics, etc, etc, etc (lots of etc’s…) so this year she expressed interest in a trampoline. All in all, in wasn’t a difficult project. Lindsay and I knocked it out in a couple of hours (and with only one argument but that’s only because I wanted mushrooms and feta cheese on my pizza … WHAT???!!) Anyway, it will make memories, not with ME jumping and playing on it (no, no, we all know…no. I’ll sleep on it when Soph wants to camp out or Linz kicks me out, but no bouncey for Rhammy) but with Sophie and friends, fun will be had! I had a trampoline when I was a kid and have so many great memories from it! (and yes, this trampoline has the cage/netting around it, and YES it is on there now….although when I was a kid…No, I won’t HA!)
Hope everyone has a great weekend. Looks like decent weather…mid-60’s appears (Ha, what do ya know, that’s also my golf score, mid 60’s *cough* *throat clear* …ish) Live music continues to thrive in the area. Also heard the announcement of the Steel Horse Rally May 7, 8, and I get at least an email a day from a group or organization that are in “planning mode” for their next event. Everyone is anxious to get back to business as usual, or, normal if you will. All I’ll say is: be cautious. Be smart. Be considerate. If you’re sick stay home. That’s it. Well maybe a few other things too, but this will get you started. We certainly don’t want to backtrack, but I also see everyone’s urge to once again “do stuff!” …and hey, that’s us! “Stuff” “things” …THINGS TO DO! It’s right here. Pull out the calendar and start filling it up! Until next week, keep it positive out there. Do something nice for someone today, and if you love Fort Smith…you know the drill..LOVE IT OUT LOUD!
Rham C.