A few days ago, Dad discovered the full-length mirror behind the door in one of our bedrooms. It was a joy and curiosity to observe him in the company of the man in the mirror. I don’t know whether he recognized himself or not. When we use the bathroom mirror he usually doesn’t show much recognition. Sometimes he will look at his teeth, but that’s it.
Fortunately, Dad liked his new friend. He looked up and down head-to-toe. He stepped back a bit and then moved close within a few inches face-to-face. He spoke to the other gentleman in his whispered voice. I wondered what he might be saying.
I was reminded of a country song that Dad and I love singing together. It has been recorded by many artists and is called “Looking Back to See.” The rhetorical lyrics are rhythmic with a fun melody.
“I was looking back to see, if you were looking back to see, if I was looking back to see, if you were looking back at me. You were cute as you could be standing looking back at me and it was plain to see I’d enjoy your company.”
After about 20 minutes, Dad walked away from the mirror and out of the room. Although he initially entered the room looking for me, he was completely unaware of my presence, and instead enjoyed a different social engagement.
Today I played the song “Looking Back to See,” and Dad and I smiled as we sang. Each of us smiled because we liked the song, but mostly because we were enjoying our own company together.
You’ve done it again! Another deeply touching journal entry that causes the reader to reminisce about precious moments in time with her own dad captured in her memory long long ago.