Oh, How the Years Roll By…
Ten years ago right about now, I figure that I was possibly the happiest man in America. My wife had just presented me with my first (and only) daughter, after two great boys. Chiannon (say “Shannon”, and no, it is not a “strange” name; it is a unique one) had entered the world twenty-two days ahead of “schedule”–technically, a “preemie”. Weighing in at a petite 5 lbs., 12 oz., she was nonetheless perfectly healthy, scoring a 9-10 on her Apgar test (don’t know how she managed to study for that thing!). I tell her that she came so early because she just couldn’t wait to meet her dad.
I was ready for a little girl…though I’m not sure I was ready for how a little girl steals a daddy’s heart. It took her probably about five minutes to wrap my heart right around her tiny finger, and she’s had it ever since. I tell her regularly–again tonight, as I tucked her into bed–that she’s God’s special gift, everything I ever imagined a daughter would be, and much more. When I cradled that tiny little thing in my arms ten years ago today for the first time, I think I was the happiest man in America. Now, when I think of my not-so-little-anymore girl, 10-year-old Chiannon–I think I still am.
This phrase comes from the 1978 "Jonestown massacre" in which most members of the Peoples Temple cult, blindly following their leader Jim Jones, committed suicide by drinking cyanide-laced Kool-Aid.
Osborne: A Contrarian's Guide to Knowing God
Schlossberg: Idols For Destruction
2 Responses to “Oh, How the Years Roll By…”
There is no doubt Chiannon is a beautiful girl, and very special, and cute as a button (certainly didn’t get that from Daddy!).
But it’s STILL a strange, if not weird, spelling of her name – sort of like her daddy.
Paul - SteelerDirtFreak ~ Feb 1, 2005 at 11:30 pm
That is so sweet! What a good daddy. We have two daddy’s girls, my husband is the bestest thing in the whole wide world as far as they are concerned. It’s really fun to watch them together. Congrats and happy birthday to your beautiful girl.
Monica-Philadelphia ~ Feb 2, 2005 at 12:12 am