Monday, August 18, 2003

I can see you and you're dancing.
Grinning, twirling in circles,
Watching your Daddys' dress shit billow out in front of you
And his too-long tie flop in the wind
Attatched to your teeny little neck.
You are unbelievable,
You giggly, chatty, bouncy,
Happy little girl.
Don't let anyone tell you otherwise,
You got that?
Because this is the last year you'll let yourself be carefree.
The last year you'll dance down the hallways,
Sing in the car,
Say what you're thinking.
Tomorrow you'll be compelled to throw away perfectly good lunches
And fun far too much for your own good.
There will be no more dressing up in Daddy's clothes
And your crazy side ponytail will be traded in for some sensible layers
And bangs.
Tomorrow's philosophy will be
Smile Because You're Suppose To
And not
Laugh Because You Can.
I love the way you want
Everyone to know you.
The way you can just talk,
Oblivious to the fact that
People might not like what you have to say.
I'm jealous of your freedom,
Your faith,
Your belief that everything will always be okay.
All you've got to do is cross your fingers,
right?
Four years from now
You'll look back and wish that
Your ten-year-old self knew just how incredible she was.
Because it's been a long four years
And you've had to learn the hard way-
Once you lose yourself,
It's not that easy
To get yourself back.

Hailey spazzed at 12:21:00 p.m.

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