Watchman

Nothing in life prepares a father for the marriage of a daughter. Not the night feedings and hours of rocking, not countless little songs, the giggling at jokes or tickles; not the construction of doll homes, the flying of kites, hoops in the driveway, the first boyfriend; not the handing of car keys, the sorority move, the permanent job offer - nothing. In fact, it is quite the contrary. All of these things together with a lifetime of precious moments and all of a daughter’s endearing qualities combine together with a father’s natural love to transform his role from simply her daddy into her teacher, comforter, provider, and protector - her watchman.

Nor too does anything in life prepare the father of a daughter to accept, trust and love a son-in-law. The life of a watchman seems to shield against this. And yet it has happened – Saturday. On a small rise of earth in a clearing of cedar and fir overlooking the grounds of a little winery in Redmond, Washington I watched with beaming pride as my dearest Jenna Marie West accepted the hand in marriage of the love of her life, Matthew Golz. May God watch over them and keep them safe and happy, all the days of their lives.

With that wish, and without tears or regret, the watchman sleeps. Still, I can’t help but feel like I’ve given away one of the few things that I need to survive. And deep in my proud and contented heart I know that I can never want it back.

Irish Equinox 2009

Thursday, September 17, 2009 scored my eighth annual toast of “Cheers to your health and that of your Mother” in traditional observance of the Irish Equinox. (click here for some background). This year’s toast was held at Paddy Coyne’s Irish Pub in Bellevue, Washington. And true to form I reached my "equinoctial point" (about four pints) a pint or two prior to our departure.

Incidentally, 4,400 miles (7,092km) to the east is Paddy Coyne’s Public House, the presumed namesake at Tully Cross in scenic and desolate Connemara on the West coast of Ireland. It was established in 1811 by Patrick "Paddy" Coyne.

This Paddy Coyne’s in Bellevue is one of three such Paddy Coyne’s pubs in the Seattle/Tacoma area. There the Guinness is good, the atmosphere is sweet and the food is excellent. Oh, and the company was familiar despite being 1,350 miles (2,175km) from home. And on this occasion, I had the pleasure of much company. In fact, our little group of twenty or so comprised the bulk of the patronage. We had visitors from Redmond, Washington, Omaha, Grand Island, Norfolk, Wayne and Wahoo, Nebraska, Missouri Valley and Ames, Iowa and South Bend, Indiana. Included in the mix were my wife and three daughters, a close friend of my oldest daughter, my Dad, my wife’s parents, two of my wife’s sisters and their families and two couples from Omaha who are among Denise and my closest friends.

If I’m not mistaken, on this night the Emerald City seemed a wee bit greener. And as long as we were all in town, we decided to stick around and catch my daughter’s wedding on Saturday.