Early Memories

What's your earliest memory? I have this vague memory from our house on Community Dr. in Derby, KS. There's not much too it, a hall and a door, and light streaming through the window. I remember almost getting my finger cut off in the piano bench when I was 3 or 4. I remember my mom chasing me through the music room when I was trying to get away after having done something I shouldn't. Last night, as I was breaking the 3 to 4 inches of ice off of the sidewalk in front of our house, I heard a soft knocking and turned to see Regina and Amelia at the window. Amelia was smiling and waving. So, I stopped and waved back and smiled really big back at her. This went on for about 20 minutes or so. I would break ice and shovel, she would knock, I would turn and we would wave at each other. It struck me that this could be the first memory she has. And if so, I wanted it to be a good memory. I had things that I needed to do. But stopping to smile and wave was much more important. I want her to remember that her dad stopped what he was doing for her - just to smile and wave. I don't want to get to the point that work (or play, for that matter) is so important that I can't stop for a moment to be the daddy that she needs. How many times have you found yourself too busy to stop, smile and wave? Few things are really that important. Life, schedule, work, responsibilities, fixing dinner, getting there on time. Are they really that important?