The Proudest Moment Of My Life!
It was a friday night in late April. My wife at the time and i had brought my mother-in-law to the tattoo parlor in Pico Rivera, CA (very near to East LA). She was there to get her eyebrows re-tattooed on... i don't know, i think it's a hispanic thing... but anyways, we had also brought my daughter Jasmine, who had just turned one year old a week or so prior, and my now ex-wife's nephew, Isaac, who was roughly 15 months old.
Jasmine had done well walking while holding my finger and taking a few short steps at a time but had yet to REALLY walk on her own. II guided her walking atop the pool table as i held her hand and even let her take a few brave steps on her own. when i brought her down to the floor she seemed to have gained a bit more confidence and was doing very well for herself. Then as she and i were walking i let go of her hand and backed away encouraging her to follow and step toward me. after a few successful tries i got very excited! I tried the exercise once again and as she approached i jerked out of the way and she kept walking all on her own! I cheered with excitement and called for anyonewho could hear to witness my beautiful daughter's 1st steps.
As her mother and grandmother came to call them over to her i knelt down a good distance away from them all. Jasmine looked around the room until she found me, wheeled around, and ran to me bearing the brightest and proudest smile i had ever seen. I couldn't help but wear one to match! as she hurried to me, she strecthed out her little arms and wrapped them around my neck. I embraced my daughter with hot tears of joy streaming down my face, feeling more complete than i ever had in my entire existence. There had never been another time when i TRULY felt like a good father until she the moment she chose ME out of all others to be the one she celebrated her biggest acheivement with...
Later that night i wound up in jail, wrongfully accused of an incident that i was the victim of... funny how such days have bittersweet endings
Unknown "my love" Adored - 15 years, 6 months, 25 days ago