Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
drawson
TDR MEMBER
Her hair was up in a pony tail,
>> her favorite dress tied with a bow.
>> Today was Daddy's Day at school,
>> and she couldn't wait to go.
>>
>> But her mommy tried to tell her,
>> that she probably should stay home.
>> Why the kids might not understand,
>> if she went to school alone.
>>
>> But she was not afraid;
>> she knew just what to say.
>> What to tell her classmates
>> of why he wasn't there today.
>>
>> But still her mother worried,
>> for her to face this day alone.
>> And that was why once again,
>> she tried to keep her daughter home.
>>
>> But the little girl went to school,
>> eager to tell them all.
>> About a dad she never sees,
>> a dad who never calls.
>>
>> There were daddies along the wall in back,
>> for everyone to meet.
>> Children squirming impatiently,
>> anxious in their seats.
>>
>> One by one the teacher called,
>> a student from the class.
>> To introduce their daddy,
>> as seconds slowly passed.
>>
>> At last the teacher called her name,
>> every child turned to stare.
>> Each of them was searching,
>> for a man who wasn't there.
>>
>> "Where's her daddy at?"
>> she heard a boy call out.
>> "She probably doesn't have one,"
>> another student dared to shout.
>>
>> And from somewhere near the back,
>> she heard a daddy say,
>> "Looks like another deadbeat dad,
>> too busy to waste his day. "
>>
>> The words did not offend her,
>> as she smiled up at her Mom.
>> And looked back at her teacher,
>> who told her to go on.
>>
>> And with hands behind her back,
>> slowly she began to speak.
>> And out from the mouth of a child,
>> came words incredibly unique.
>>
>> "My Daddy couldn't be here,
>> because he lives so far away.
>> But I know he wishes he could be,
>> since this is such a special day.
>>
>> And though you cannot meet him,
>> I wanted you to know.
>> All about my daddy,
>> and how much he loves me so.
>>
>> He loved to tell me stories,
>> he taught me to ride my bike.
>> He surprised me with pink roses,
>> and taught me to fly a kite.
>>
>> We used to share fudge sundaes,
>> and ice cream in a cone.
>> And though you cannot see him,
>> I'm not standing here alone.
>>
>> 'Cause my daddy's always with me,
>> even though we are apart
>> I know because he told me,
>> he'll forever be in my heart"
>>
>> With that, her little hand reached up,
>> and lay across her chest.
>> Feeling her own heartbeat,
>> beneath her favorite dress.
>>
>> And from somewhere in the crowd of dads,
>> her mother stood in tears.
>> Proudly watching her daughter,
>> who was wise beyond her years.
>>
>> For she stood up for the love
>> of a man not in her life.
>> Doing what was best for her,
>> doing what was right.
>>
>> And when she dropped her hand back down,
>> staring straight into the crowd.
>> She finished with a voice so soft,
>> but its message clear and loud.
>>
>> "I love my daddy very much,
>> he's my shining star.
>> And if he could, he'd be here,
>> but heaven's just too far.
>>
>> You see he was a fireman
>> and died just this past year
>> When airplanes hit the towers
>> and taught Americans to fear.
>>
>> But sometimes when I close my eyes,
>> it's like he never went away. "
>> And then she closed her eyes,
>> and saw him there that day.
>>
>> And to her mother's amazement,
>> she witnessed with surprise.
>> A room full of daddies and children,
>> all starting to close their eyes.
>>
>> Who knows what they saw before them,
>> who knows what they felt inside.
>> Perhaps for merely a second,
>> they saw him at her side.
>>
>> "I know you're with me Daddy,"
>> to the silence she called out.
>> And what happened next made believers,
>> of those once filled with doubt.
>>
>> Not one in that room could explain it,
>> for each of their eyes had been closed.
>> But there on the desk beside her,
>> was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.
>>
>> And a child was blessed, if only for a moment,
>> by the love of her shining bright star.
>> And given the gift of believing,
>> that heaven is never too far
>>
>> DO NOT FORGET 9/11/01
>> her favorite dress tied with a bow.
>> Today was Daddy's Day at school,
>> and she couldn't wait to go.
>>
>> But her mommy tried to tell her,
>> that she probably should stay home.
>> Why the kids might not understand,
>> if she went to school alone.
>>
>> But she was not afraid;
>> she knew just what to say.
>> What to tell her classmates
>> of why he wasn't there today.
>>
>> But still her mother worried,
>> for her to face this day alone.
>> And that was why once again,
>> she tried to keep her daughter home.
>>
>> But the little girl went to school,
>> eager to tell them all.
>> About a dad she never sees,
>> a dad who never calls.
>>
>> There were daddies along the wall in back,
>> for everyone to meet.
>> Children squirming impatiently,
>> anxious in their seats.
>>
>> One by one the teacher called,
>> a student from the class.
>> To introduce their daddy,
>> as seconds slowly passed.
>>
>> At last the teacher called her name,
>> every child turned to stare.
>> Each of them was searching,
>> for a man who wasn't there.
>>
>> "Where's her daddy at?"
>> she heard a boy call out.
>> "She probably doesn't have one,"
>> another student dared to shout.
>>
>> And from somewhere near the back,
>> she heard a daddy say,
>> "Looks like another deadbeat dad,
>> too busy to waste his day. "
>>
>> The words did not offend her,
>> as she smiled up at her Mom.
>> And looked back at her teacher,
>> who told her to go on.
>>
>> And with hands behind her back,
>> slowly she began to speak.
>> And out from the mouth of a child,
>> came words incredibly unique.
>>
>> "My Daddy couldn't be here,
>> because he lives so far away.
>> But I know he wishes he could be,
>> since this is such a special day.
>>
>> And though you cannot meet him,
>> I wanted you to know.
>> All about my daddy,
>> and how much he loves me so.
>>
>> He loved to tell me stories,
>> he taught me to ride my bike.
>> He surprised me with pink roses,
>> and taught me to fly a kite.
>>
>> We used to share fudge sundaes,
>> and ice cream in a cone.
>> And though you cannot see him,
>> I'm not standing here alone.
>>
>> 'Cause my daddy's always with me,
>> even though we are apart
>> I know because he told me,
>> he'll forever be in my heart"
>>
>> With that, her little hand reached up,
>> and lay across her chest.
>> Feeling her own heartbeat,
>> beneath her favorite dress.
>>
>> And from somewhere in the crowd of dads,
>> her mother stood in tears.
>> Proudly watching her daughter,
>> who was wise beyond her years.
>>
>> For she stood up for the love
>> of a man not in her life.
>> Doing what was best for her,
>> doing what was right.
>>
>> And when she dropped her hand back down,
>> staring straight into the crowd.
>> She finished with a voice so soft,
>> but its message clear and loud.
>>
>> "I love my daddy very much,
>> he's my shining star.
>> And if he could, he'd be here,
>> but heaven's just too far.
>>
>> You see he was a fireman
>> and died just this past year
>> When airplanes hit the towers
>> and taught Americans to fear.
>>
>> But sometimes when I close my eyes,
>> it's like he never went away. "
>> And then she closed her eyes,
>> and saw him there that day.
>>
>> And to her mother's amazement,
>> she witnessed with surprise.
>> A room full of daddies and children,
>> all starting to close their eyes.
>>
>> Who knows what they saw before them,
>> who knows what they felt inside.
>> Perhaps for merely a second,
>> they saw him at her side.
>>
>> "I know you're with me Daddy,"
>> to the silence she called out.
>> And what happened next made believers,
>> of those once filled with doubt.
>>
>> Not one in that room could explain it,
>> for each of their eyes had been closed.
>> But there on the desk beside her,
>> was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.
>>
>> And a child was blessed, if only for a moment,
>> by the love of her shining bright star.
>> And given the gift of believing,
>> that heaven is never too far
>>
>> DO NOT FORGET 9/11/01
