The Dictionary describes “Day One” as “the first day or very beginning of something.”. US slang, Urban dictionary, describes it as “A close, longtime friend, one who has been around since the beginning.”.
Someone who has been there since the beginning; through the good and bad times. Someone who, no matter what, has your back. Someone who has seen the good, bad, and ugly, been with you for the longest, still stands by your side and loves you.
These are my “Day Ones”.
These two have been with me since “Day One”. They watched me take my first breath, take my first steps, cheered at my middle school basketball games, dutifully sat during music concerts, and helped with my science fairs and homework. They watched me walk down three aisles, my high school graduation, my college graduation, and they walked me down the aisle where my best friend was waiting to marry me.
They watched me grow, mature, and make choices, both good and bad. When they weren’t holding my hand, they had my back.
My parents have watched every part of my life, and they are now at the age where I’ve begun to watch THEM do everything.
Their steps are slower, and they tend to shuffle a bit. There is pain now that wasn’t there before. I’m now the one sitting and watching them. Sitting in waiting rooms and holding their hand. I’m walking them down aisles of doctor’s offices and hospitals and having their back when they need a little more help.
I’ve begun to see my parents as people.
There is a quote that says, “Love your parents. We are so busy growing up that we often forget that they are growing old.”
I’m not naive to think they will be with me forever, and I’ve begun to think about what life will be like when I lose my “Day Ones”. I’m not afraid as much of losing the big things or missing them at big events. I’m more afraid of losing the little things.
Little things like the sound of my Daddy’s voice as he says, “Bye babe. I love you.” The sound of my Mom’s singing voice, as she sings “Happy Birthday” to me every year.
Momma’s love of everything pink and sparkly and her adorable fashion sense. The way my Dad snickers or throws his head back laughing when it’s really funny.
I’ll miss my twice a month nail appointments and dinner date with mom. I’ll miss Daddy walking into the door of our family business.
I’ll miss running to them with every good and bad news. I’ll miss seeing “Mom” and “Dad” pop up on my cell phone when they call. I’ll miss their texts just to check in.
I’ll miss them bragging on their granddaughters every minute they get.
It’s not the big things I’m afraid of losing. It’s the small ones.
One day, I will lose my “Day Ones”.
They watched me take my first breath, and I will watch them take their last.
Cowles Farm 