One of my heart-goals for the New Year was to return to writing my stories. 

On my birthday, 2 January, I was inspired to write a short story about my beloved Daddy.

I guess no matter how old I get, he will always be Daddy to me; not Dad or Father – Daddy.

In the late 1980s, Frank was posted to the American Embassy in the Sultanate of Oman. Our sons and I accompanied him on this exotic adventure. We had access to  American music, and strangely, each time I’d hear Bette Midler’s popular new song, Wind Beneath My Wings, my daddy’s face would magically appear in my spirit, like a mirage, right before my eyes. This occurred multiple times, so for his Father’s Day gift, 1989, I recorded her beautiful song (link below) and mailed a CD with a note tucked inside telling him of his face appearing before me each time I heard ‘our song.’ My note continued, assuring him of how special he was, how grateful I was for his unwavering love and belief in me, and how this would forever be ’our song’. Mother said he’d sit in the living room and play the CD over & over again - listening intently, as if to allow  the words and deeper meaning to soak into his DNA. She said she’d never seen Daddy appreciate any gift more. Perhaps it was because I was on the other side of the world when I created it; or perhaps, it was because I’d never before called him my hero. I was inspired by the power of the lyrics, which prompted me to recognize Daddy as indeed the wind beneath my wings. It captured the essence of our relationship.

I’m forever grateful that, in my busyness, I didn’t ignore these repeated mirages; instead, I stopped long enough to record this special song/gift for him. It would become his most cherished Father’s Day gift. Years later, at his 90th birthday party, I had the JOY of personally singing this song to him in front of a great gathering of all his friends and family. It didn’t matter that I can’t sing. He lit up like a Christmas tree, now such a precious memory for me. 

My gift to you in writing this story/blog is to post it as a reminder not to ignore your intuitive (what I now call) ‘heart promptings’. Intentionally, in the midst of your busyness, make the effort to tell important people in your life that you love and appreciate them. Be specific. Tell them how they’ve made a difference for you. It’s not enough to just think about it. You must speak it - tell them. Words have power.   

“Wind Beneath My Wings” - Bette Miller

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iAzMRKFX3c