First, I want thank Life of Dad, for the great job they do in bringing Dad’s together. Nothing is more important, and making me feel so at home on your site, whether I’m blogging, publishing a book, or jumping on a podcast. Love that we keep an eye on each other with Facebook. You dads have created a great place for us dads.
So let’s set the stage, I have two wonderful beautiful daughters, and being part of their life has been quite a crazy ride. My oldest daughter Sam is 25 and was quite a musical talent, singing the National Anthem at an Islander game at age nine. That day is a story in itself. She also wrote the afterward to my first novel.
My younger daughter, Madison can sing, dance play a numerous amount of instruments but a few years ago found a home with the world of art, and has not dropped down her brush since. We now live in the house of paint, and everyone at Michael’s arts and crafts knows me by name.
This summer was of the most amazing of my life, I traded my day job, flying around the country, and gave up being Jerry McGuire, and settled into sunny days that I thought would never end. Lazy afternoons with my daughters Sam’s rescue dog floating in the pool, and getting perspective.
Dad, I want to see Bob Dylan, said Madison. I have wanted to see Bob Dylan forever. Forest Hills here we come. Pouring rain turned to sunshine, my daughter was mesmerized, and the ride home was filled with my daughter dissecting the concert like she was fine tuning Mr. Dylan’s instruments.
It took a 17 year old girl to get a 54 year old man, in front of one of his hero’s an Icon, legend, and now a Nobel Prize winner. It was a wow, in so many ways. The following month was Bruce Springsteen spent in front of the stage for four hours of Dancing in the Dark with my older daughter and her girlfriend.
I took Sam to a few Bruce Springsteen concerts, but at 25 she really got it, and got him. From singing along in the Meadowlands parking lot, we were a few minutes late, to making friends, selfies, and just crushing it.
What’s the point?
Many Dad’s reading this are younger dad’s and these kind of things set the table.The stuff doesn’t happen by accident. The amazing thing for me is they both wanted to go to the concert with me. Their dad. So I probably had to do a thousand things, 500 on purpose, 500 on accident throughout their childhood, for them to want to share that experience with me. Music, is life and I have shed a few tears, maybe more than a few listening to my daughters sing and perform.
To take a few lyrics from Bruce Springsteen’s song “Growin Up”
The flag of Piracy flew from my mast my sails were set wing to wing.
I had two jukebox graduates for my two mates they couldn’t sail but they sure could sing.
In my Life of Dad, I’m glad my daughters had me come sing along.