My daughter

Today is my daughter’s birthday. I got to spend most of the day with her from 9:30am to 4:00pm. Just the two of us. We went to a movie, ate lunch, and stopped by Barnes & Noble where I let her pick out a book for her present.

But she gave me a gift too; she asked me to spend this day with her.

Sometimes it aches how much I love her. Jaimi is 37 years old now but when I’m with her I can’t help but go back to those wonderful days when Daddy was the center of her life.

I really didn’t know who I was until she was born. Suddenly I had a purpose. Jaimi gave me meaning. She built a soft spot in my heart that will always belong to her. It’s like a little pocket where I store our memories. On days when I’m down and not feeling worth much, I pull a few out and remember who I am and why I’m here.

Jaimi is smart (graduated salutatorian), beautiful, a great mother to our grandkids, a talented singer, and a hard worker. But most important, she is the reminder of my place in this crazy terrible wonderful universe.

Jaimi is many things to many people. But for me Jaimi is an intrinsic part of my soul.

She’s my daughter.