Week 2: Interpret a Song

I Had the Time of My Life

The door of the gymnasium opened and light spilled into the darkened room.  A little girl poked her head inside hesitant to enter. Loud music spilled from the room as bright lights darted across the walls and floor.  Two women exchanged knowing glances as they beckoned the young girl to come inside.  "Come on in!" they encouraged. "Let's get your name so we can give you your corsage and you can join your friends." The young girl looked up at her father as he smiled and whispered something in her ear.  Cautiously, the girl entered the room and gave her name to the women.  They welcomed the couple again and handed the father a baby blue floral wrist corsage.  He took her hand in his and led her across the room to a place away from the crowd.  He held her hand in his own and gently tied the wrist corsage around his daughter's wrist.  Before he let her hand go, he squeezed it and kissed it tenderly as only a "Daddy's Hands" can do.

Daddy's Hands

It wasn't long before the two were laughing, dancing and preparing for their "couples" photo.  They tried on multiple hats, glasses and wigs in preparation unable to decide which one was funny enough to use as their keepsake.  The girl couldn't decide, she had to try each and every one of them on to be sure.  Her father enjoyed every minute of his little girl's laughter and mischief.  You could see the love he had for her.  His feelings were written across his face.  He was enjoying every minute looking into his daughter's eyes.  

In My Daughter's Eyes  

The two danced the night away laughing, joking and visiting.  He waited on her hand and foot showing her how a gentleman should treat her.  He wanted to make sure she had the time of her life just as he was having himself.  He pulled her onto the dance floor for the final song of the night and they danced to their favorite song, Butterfly Kisses.

Butterfly Kisses

This was my 3rd year witnessing precious moments between fathers and daughters and friends.  Once again I found myself tearing up off and on throughout the evening.  I again realize how lucky I am to stand in the shadows with camera in hand capturing their tender moments.  Moments they don't realize someone is watching.  I wish I could share them all here. There is something undescribable about watching a father gingerly lift his daughter above his head and spin her around.  It was fun watching another father and daughter doing their own rehearsed dance.  I won't ever forget the sweet moments between mothers and daughters and grandfathers and daughters and even an older brother who had escorted his sister to the dance.  Each young girl's story was unique and beautiful.  

As I reviewed the photos from this year's dance a new thought occured to me.  These young ladies had so much fun dancing with their daddies and eachother!  Everyone was relaxed and able to be themselves.  These elementary school dances are special.  Nobody was standing along the wall waiting to be asked to dance.  Nobody's feeling were hurt because they wished they were with someone else.  They had no worries about how they looked or who might see them dancing or being silly.  They weren't caught up in impressing one another with their hair and makeup.  They weren't worried someone might talk about them.  They were completely and totally IN THE MOMENT.  How will any dance or boy ever measure up to this moment and moments like these at future dances?  The young men and dances of the future have some big shoes to fill.

I hope these girls will hold these moments close for the rest of their lives.  I know I will.