Column: Thanks for Listening

When my daughter graduated in June from high school, I was going through some of the older scrapbooks for pictures to put on her graduation boards.

Going through those books and pictures sure have a way of reminding you how old you are getting (29 by the way) as well as how time flies.

Seeing the baby photos of when Tayler was just born as well as all of the early report cards and reading rainbow certificates makes you a bit teary-eyed and sentimental. Was my daughter really 18? Was Tayler really going to go away for college? Is she ready? Am I ready?

On one of the pages I had taped the CD of the song “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack. This song was a huge hit when Tayler was about 6 years old, and I remember thinking back then that it was the absolute perfect song for what I truly wished for my daughter. I listened to it again and the words just really sum up exactly what you want for your child at any age. While age 6 and 18 seem to be miles apart in age, the hopes and dreams you have for your children are not very far apart at all.

Enjoy life.

Dance in the rain.

Don’t take life for granted.

Follow your heart.

These are words that every parent hopes end up turning into reality for their children. Enjoy:

 

“I Hope You Dance”

Sung by: Lee Ann Womack

 

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder

You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger

May you never take one single breath for granted

God forbid love ever leave you empty-handed

 

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean

Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens

Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

 

I hope you dance

I hope you dance

 

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance

Never settle for the path of least resistance

Living might mean taking chances but they’re worth taking

Lovin’ might be a mistake but it’s worth making

 

Don’t let some hell-bent heart leave you bitter

When you come close to selling out reconsider

Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

 

I hope you dance

(Time is a wheel in constant motion always)

I hope you dance

(Rolling us along)

I hope you dance

(Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder)

I hope you dance

(Where those years have gone)

 

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean

Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens

Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

 

Dance

I hope you dance

(Dance)

I hope you dance

(Time is a wheel in constant motion always)

I hope you dance

(Rolling us along)

I hope you dance

(Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder)

I hope you dance

(Where those years have gone)

 

Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder

(Dance)

Where those years have gone

(Dance)

 

Tayler, dance baby dance.

I love you with all of my heart and soul and know that you will do amazing things!

P.S.: Yes, Tayler, I am going to cry. (Tayler asked, when I dropped her off at school, will I cry?)

 

Tribune Publisher Scott Schmeltzer’s column appears every Thursday.