There ...

I will be there ...

when she wants to be a ballerina
when she tries on her first pair of high-heeled shoes
when she brings home her first report card
when she earns her first "A"
when the first boy breaks her heart
when she breaks the first boy's heart
and when she cries over both
when she attends her first day of kindergarten
of junior high school
of high school
college
when she first says she hates me
and her dad
and the dogs
when she makes her first true best friend
and when they fight
and then make up
when she earns her first paycheck
and then blows it, deservingly, on clothes
when she gets her first pimple
when she tries out for a sports team
her first sports victory
her first sports trophy
her first defeat

I will be there ...

when she discovers her dreams are within reach
and when she reaches those dreams through hard work, dedication, perseverance
when she hears the war in Iraq is over
when she learns a woman became president of the U.S.A.
that should be in her history book at school
hopefully, by elementary school
at the latest, junior high school

I will be there ...

when she receives her first delivery of flowers from a boy
her first box of chocolates
her first love note, even though she might not let me see it
when the first boy picks her up for a date
and opens the door to the car for her
he better

I will be there ...

when she does her first good deed
when she first volunteers
when she shows the world just what she's capable of
it's a lot
a lot of love
dedication
strong will
brilliance
even now
at 3