not reptile related but....

[beth wallbank]

I had to share this with you. Never before have I sat at the computer by myself and had tears. Whoa, touching. For those who have read this before I appolgize

A Dad's Poem: If this doesn't get to you, nothing will.
>>>
>>>Her hair was up in a pony tail,
>>>her favorite dress tied with a bow.
>>>Today was Daddy's Day at school,
>>>and she couldn't wait to go.
>>>
>>>But her mommy tried to tell her,
>>>that she probably should stay home.
>>>Why the kids might not understand,
>>>if she went to school alone.
>>>
>>>But she was not afraid;
>>>she knew just what to say.
>>>What to tell her classmates
>>>of why he wasn't there today.
>>>
>>>But still her mother worried,
>>>for her to face this day alone.
>>>And that was why once again,
>>>she tried to keep her daughter home.
>>>
>>>But the little girl went to school
>>>eager to tell them all.
>>>About a dad she never sees
>>>a dad who never calls.
>>>
>>>There were daddies along the wall in back,
>>>for everyone to meet.
>>>Children squirming impatiently,
>>>anxious in their seats
>>>
>>>One by one the teacher called
>>>a student from the class.
>>>To introduce their daddy,
>>>as seconds slowly passed.
>>>
>>>At last the teacher called her name,
>>>every child turned to stare.
>>>Each of them was searching,
>>>for a man who wasn't there.
>>>
>>>"Where's her daddy at?"
>>>she heard a boy call out.
>>>"She probably doesn't have one,"
>>>another student dared to shout.
>>>
>>>And from somewhere near the back,
>>>she heard a daddy say,
>>>"Looks like another deadbeat dad,
>>>too busy to waste his day."
>>>
>>>The words did not offend her,
>>>as she smiled up at her Mom.
>>>And looked back at her teacher,
>>>who told her to go on.
>>>
>>>And with hands behind her back,
>>>slowly she began to speak.
>>>And out from the mouth of a child,
>>>came words incredibly unique.
>>>
>>>"My Daddy couldn't be here,
>>>because he lives so far away.
>>>But I know he wishes he could be,
>>>since this is such a special day.
>>>
>>>And though you cannot meet him,
>>>I wanted you to know.
>>>All about my daddy,
>>>and how much he loves me so.
>>>
>>>He loved to tell me stories
>>>he taught me to ride my bike.
>>>He surprised me with pink roses,
>>>and taught me to fly a kite.
>>>
>>>We used to share fudge sundaes,
>>>and ice cream in a cone.
>>>And though you cannot see him.
>>>I'm not standing here alone.
>>>
>>>"Cause my daddy's always with me,
>>>even though we are apart
>>>I know because he told me,
>>>he'll forever be in my heart"
>>>
>>>With that, her little hand reached up,
>>>and lay across her chest.
>>>Feeling her own heartbeat,
>>>beneath her favorite dress.
>>>
>>>And from somewhere here in the crowd of dads,
>>>her mother stood in tears.
>>>Proudly watching her daughter,
>>>who was wise beyond her years.
>>>
>>>For she stood up for the love
>>>of a man not in her life.
>>>Doing what was best for her,
>>>doing what was right.
>>>
>>>And when she dropped her hand back down,
>>>staring straight into the crowd.
>>>She finished with a voice so soft,
>>>but its message clear and loud.
>>>
>>>"I love my daddy very much,
>>>he's my shining star.
>>>And if he could, he'd be here,
>>>but heaven's just too far
>>>
>>>You see he was a policeman
>>>and died just this past year
>>>When airplanes hit the towers
>>>and taught Americans to fear.
>>>
>>>But sometimes when I close my eyes,
>>>it's like he never went away."
>>>And then she closed her eyes,
>>>and she saw him there that day.
>>>
>>>And to her mothers amazement,
>>>she witnessed with surprise.
>>>A room full of daddies and children,
>>>all starting to close their eyes.
>>>
>>>Who knows what they saw before them,
>>>who knows what they felt inside.
>>>Perhaps for merely a second,
>>>they saw him at her side.
>>>
>>>"I know you're with me Daddy,"
>>>to the silence she called out
>>>And what happened next made believers,
>>>of those once filled with doubt.
>>>
>>>Not one in that room could explain it,
>>>for each of their eyes had been closed.
>>>But there on the desk beside her,
>>>was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.
>>>
>>>And a child was blessed, if only for a moment,
>>>by the love of her shining star.
>>>And given the gift of believing,
>>>that heaven is never too far.
>>>
>>>They say it takes a minute to find a special
>>>person, an hour to appreciate them,
>>>a day to love them, but then an entire
>>>life to forget them.
>>>
>>>Send this to the people you'll never forget and >remember to send
>>>it also to the person that sent it to you. It's a short message to
>>>let them know that you'll never forget them.
>>>
>>>If you don't send it to anyone, it means you're in a hurry and
>>>that you've forgotten your friends.
>>>
>>>Take the time...to live and love.
>>
>