wedding day for mom
The old folks, as we unkindly refer to them,
Are sitting in the living room
A second pot of coffee has been made
They're talking about the old days
I only tune in for snatches
"They were all shipped to California and I got shipped to old dirty New Jersey"
My son has taken his second shower
He walks around the house in his new suit
Straightening his tie
Smelling good
My daughter says, "I don't need anything, now let me get dressed"
The conversation moves to the kitchen,
"Pat was never like that. She wouldn't say that. The rest of those people they didn't give a ..."
I'm dressed and waiting
I've read my Valentines emails
I've drank a lot of coffee
This is not a traumatic moment for me
I came to grips a long time ago with the idea of this young man as my son in law
And my baby girl growing up
And of my child being less than I wanted and hoped for her
She is happy
...
She is happy
I keep telling myself that
It is her life after all
And a parent's job
At least parts of it
Does stop or change at some point
Today is that point
Or maybe tomorrow
