Daddy's Girl (New) Poem by Judy Meibach

You adopted me when I was little,
never considering the implications.

You taught me to ride a bike,
thinking I could compete in the Tour de France.
You watched me as I fell and fell and fell,
but you were there to lift me up.

You escorted me to rock concerts,
stuffing your ears with cotton balls,
as you thought we'd go deaf.
You thought Elton John looked like Cousin Howard;
oh what a sight that was to see.

We frequented basketball games and tennis matches,
rooting for the champs: the Boston Celtics,
Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova and John McEnroe,
among others.

When you were older and could not walk the area's stands,
we were glued to the television for each sports event,
screaming so loud the whole neighborhood could hear us.

You inspired me with your convictions
to our religion, Judaism.
assuring that I was properly educated in its heritage.
The holidays were really very special and
I prized our weekly Sabbaths.
We went to the synagogue together and then had our
father/daughter quality time:
eating festive lunches,
taking long walks.

My mother, your wife, was very jealous of this special connection,
calling me 'your second wife',

She did not understand that fathers and daughters have a special bond.