Every Time She Waves Good-bye

This song was inspired by 20 years of raising daughters, but the motivation to write my feelings in a song came from two specific events.

The first was when Tammy boarded a school bus for her first day of Kindergarten. She ran to the back of the bus and waved to me while the bus drove away. I panicked! She didn't have a seat belt on and I didn't know the driver! I jumped into my car and followed the bus to school to make sure she got off at the right stop. It may seem silly now, but I still remember that wave good-bye like it was just this morning.

Years later at a wedding reception, I overheard the bride's mother telling her friends that she was holding up pretty good even though her only daughter was getting married. One of the other mothers said, "Just wait until she drives away!"

Lucie was engaged at the time and as I watched the bride and groom drive away I think I cried more than the bride's parents did. That evening I started writing the lyrics for this song and it was ready in time for Lucie's wedding procession and Father/Daughter dance.

Even though I raised my daughters to grow up and leave the nest, there's still a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye every time they wave good-bye.