The Daddy Daughter Dance

When our good friend Becky offers to pay for dance lessons, I delight in being included. In addition to joining Jose and Annalyse at the Asheville Ballroom, I entertain a fantasy that I will tear up the floor during the daddy daughter dance with the crowd exploding at the end.

Ignoring a long history of numerous rhythm-related catastrophes, I set out to do my best. In the middle of the second lesson, the dance instructor, a very kind and patient man, shows me for the 73rd. time — One-Two-Ex-Cuse Me, One-Two-Ex-Cuse Me, One-Two-Ex-Cuse Me; I detect a slight tone of irritation tinged with profound amazement.

When I suggest a focus on the happy couple and their first dance, he smiles gratefully, and I throw in my towel.
I believe I finally learn — I may tan easy, but I am a white boy head to feet.

For the daddy daughter dance, Annalyse and I agree on The Sway, which even a one-legged albino Eskimo can do. We decide together, the dance would flow better if we relax and enjoy the moment.

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As the wedding DJ calls out the daddy daughter dance, my anxiety never shows, and not just because of swallowing about a half of bottle of Xanax.

In the glow and light of my daughter’s face, bright red hair, backlit white dress, colors circling her floral crown, I revel in my daughter’s joy.

Behind us, playing on a video screen, flow a lifetime of images: Belly laughing for the millionth time when the clumsy dragon in our favorite story sticks a sword in his tail; dancing like a 5-year-old Dorothy missing a front tooth during her Wizard of Oz birthday party; Coaxing Gatsby, our cowardly Siberian, onto the pool float; creating art together in London; running in an aqua-colored coat through a heavy white snow. Our memories flow through the dance.

Swaying to Amos Lee’s Sweet Pea, forever our song, we talk of small things, joyous moments, and I apologize for my recent funk. She forgives me and her smile reveals our dance as a gift of grace.

I realize the dance is over so quickly.

When the music ends, I hug her for the longest time; we both speak of the love we share, a dance for a lifetime.

The video focuses on the Daddy-Daughter relationship from birth to wedding.