Not many people outside of my family know that my Dad used to sing in a band called Squad 4. It was a group of Denver police officers that would play concerts in uniform. That is him, in the middle, top row. I guess to get the entertainment and security all in one swoop. : ) Granted, this was mostly before my time. My Dad was on stage singing when my Mom walked through the door of the ballroom, her beauty stunned him so much that he lost his place in the song, at least that is how the story goes. In fact, it was on stage that my Dad proposed to my Mom 38 years ago on New Year's Eve. My older sisters have TONS of memories of my Dad singing in the band. I don't have any, at all. The only memory I had was a tape that the band made that had a couple of songs on it. I used to listen to that black demo tape over and over again. The tape has been long since lost and the only song I remember from the tape, I didn't even know the name of. "Cause my Uncle took the message and he wrote it on the wall...." I knew the tune, couldn't place most of the lyrics, but that was the ONLY song I remembered of my Dad singing and had never heard it sung anywhere else.
On Saturday, we were grocery shopping at Trader Joe's. There in the middle of the frozen food, looking at some fried rice, did I hear a familiar beat and tune. Stunned, I closed my eyes so that I could block out all the weekend shopping noise and concentrate on the song...."Long distance information, give me Memphis, Tennessee. Help me find the party who tried to get in touch with me. I do not know the number but I know who placed the call, 'cause my Uncle took the message and he wrote it one the wall...." It was it! It was the song! My special little "hello" from my Dad! Tears streaming down my face and people looking at me like I was nuts, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt it was him!
When I got home and looked up the name of the song and who sang it, I also found the lyrics. The song is about a father trying to get in touch with his daughter. Could there be a more perfect song for the journey he and I are taking together now?!
So, here we are, a little diddy from my daddy :)
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