True Blue

I was 15 when this song (and album) came out:

I've had other guys
I've looked into their eyes
But I never knew love before
'Til you walked through my door

I've had other lips
I've sailed a thousand ships
But no matter where I go
You're the one for me, baby, this I know

'Cause it's true love
You're the one I'm dreaming of
Your heart fits me like a glove
And I'm gonna be true blue, baby, I love you

My cousin and I must have played it 100 times after we purchased it while spending a week at our family's summer cottage on Lake Michigan. We wrote the song lyrics in the sand. We were way into it.

Today he sent me a video he took at a recent Madonna concert during this song, and it brought me right back to those days when he and I used to ponder what true love was all about (we didn't have a clue and wouldn't for another decade or two).

But now we do know. He's married to a wonderful man, and I (sorta) recently had the opportunity to fall completely in love and be loved by an incredible man. I could've sworn it was true love -- maybe it was -- but it didn't turn out to be the happily ever after kind.

So while I might not be at this point yet:

No more sadness, I kiss it goodbye
The sun is bursting right out of the sky
I searched the whole world for someone like you
Don't you know, don't you know that it's

True love, oh baby, true love, oh baby
True love, oh baby, true love
It's true love, oh baby, true love, oh baby
True love, oh baby, true love

It's true, so if you should ever doubt
Wonder what love is all about
Just think back and remember dear
Those words whispered in your ear, I said

True love, oh baby, true love, oh baby
True love, oh baby, true love
It's true love, oh baby, true love, oh baby
True love, oh baby, true love
It's true love

I do know what it feels like, and I know how it happens. It doesn't happen because you're wearing something cute or manage to be a certain weight or say the right thing or do something really well -- that's what I used to think. But now I know it's much more magical than that, and I know I'll know it when I feel it again...

I Loved Her First

Another Babysitter Gets Married!

My kids and I had the pleasure of attending our third wedding of a former babysitter of theirs. They are such a fun couple, and the wedding was fun too, but I couldn't help but feel some sadness about the contrast between our babysitter's experience with her Dad at her wedding and my own experience with mine.

My Dad refused to give a speech at my wedding; hers gave a beautiful speech, calling her radiant and welcoming her new husband to the family.

I had no dance with the father of the bride at my wedding; our babysitter and her Dad danced to this touching number:

Look at the two of you dancing that way
Lost in the moment and each others face
So much in love your alone in this place
Like there's nobody else in the world
I was enough for her not long ago
I was her number one
She told me so
And she still means the world to me
Just so you know
So be careful when you hold my girl
Time changes everything
Life must go on
And I'm not gonna stand in your way

But I loved her first and I held her first
And a place in my heart will always be hers
From the first breath she breathed
When she first smiled at me
I knew the love of a father runs deep
And I prayed that she'd find you someday
But it still hard to give her away
I loved her first

How could that beautiful women with you
Be the same freckle face kid that I knew
The one that I read all those fairy tales to
And tucked into bed all those nights
And I knew the first time I saw you with her
It was only a matter of time

But I loved her first and I held her first
And a place in my heart will always be hers
From the first breath she breathed
When she first smiled at me
I knew the love of a father runs deep
And I prayed that she'd find you someday
But its still hard to give her away
I loved her first

From the first breath she breathed
When she first smiled at me
I knew the love of a father runs deep
Someday you might know what I'm going through
When a miracle smiles up at you
I loved her first

I know my Dad loves me. I also know he's unlikely ever to express it in word or in song. And I'm at peace with that, most of the time. But once in a while, some sadness is going to come up, and I'm ok with that too...