I heard this song on the radio the other day called "Cinderella" by Steven Curtis Chapman. I kind of put it in the back of my head and forgot about it, then I heard it again today after I dropped Michael off at school. It really took my breath away.
I came in the house and couldn't get the song out of my head. I googled the lyrics, read them and then found the song. (click on the stop square, then the play triangle and grab a tissue) I then found a video of it on You Tube. I cried as I thought about how big Noelle is getting and how part of the song has happened and part is still yet to come. Then I thought of why this song really means so much to me.
It was a week or so before Sean and I got married. I was on my to the house we were getting ready to live in. It was a really clear September night. My dad was walking me out to my car when we stopped on the top step leading down to the driveway. As always, my dad was giving me a big hug before I left. This night, I held on a little longer and started to cry. I told him that, while I couldn't wait to get married to Sean and I loved him very much, a big part of me felt that a door was shutting and that I would no longer his "little girl".
My dad gave me a big squeeze, kissed my head, wiped away a tear, looked deep into my eyes and said "Oh Erin, no matter how old you are, you will always be my little girl". I gave him back a big squeeze as if to say "that's all I needed to know".
Of all the memories I have of the things I have done over the years with my dad, everything from installing air conditioners and furnaces, changing out the motor in my uncles blue truck, to him rubbing my feet and legs when I was in labor with Noelle, that is my number one all time favorite memory. I hope it's one of his favorite memories too.
