It would be a simple job.
That is all it would be; a simple job.
Pick you up, show you to your mother, and take you to the nursery.
And so it began, at 8:46 in the evening on the 22nd day of the year 2004.

This is a simple job, Katlin.
That is all it is; a simple job.
I picked you up, showed you to your mother, and headed to the nursery.

Past the bright lights and the bustle of the delivery room,
An empty, dimly lit room stood between the two of us and the nursery.
I paused at the doorway and looked down at you.
Just for a moment, you opened your eyes and looked up.
It was in that moment, I saw for the first time, my daughter looking at me.

'In the twilight glow I see
Blue eyes cryin' in the rain'�

Thirty-two years of controlled restraint welled up in a raging torrent of emotions.
Love'� fear'� pride'� too many'� too many things that'� I could not stop this time'�
It all cascaded down my trembling cheeks as I stood there in this downpour of feelings.
All the while, this melody from out of nowhere was playing in my head.
A song that I vaguely knew as a boy now spoke familiar to me as a man.
My stoic facade was washed away, exposing the vulnerability I had denied for so long.

'In a land that knows no partin'
Blue eyes cryin' in the rain'�

As that song, our song, played on, I danced with you in that empty, dimly lit room.
But now it didn't seem so empty, it definitely didn't seem so dim.
It became so clear what had brilliantly filled that room'� a father's unconditional love.
Love that knows no limitations, love that knows no boundaries, love that knows no end.
We danced to the nursery and not once did my teary eyes leave your beautiful face.

'Love is like a dyin' ember
Only memories remain'�


When we got to the nursery, I took a minute to reflect before handing you to the nurse.
I now understood how it felt to be a father, and how it must feel for my father.
He has always been there to inspire me and give me the knowledge he has gained.
The greatest tribute that I could give him would be to do the same for my daughter.
It was time to take the torch that my father has been carrying all these years.
My chest was heavy and as I took a deep breath, the words came to me so easily.
I cleared my throat and brought you close to my face.
This would be the first, of a lifetime of talks.

Whatever life might bring you: a job, a moment in time, a song, words of wisdom'�
No matter what it is'� whatever life might bring you'�
The one least likely, Katlin Bree'�
Always remember the one least likely.

And so it ended at 8:56 in the evening on the 22nd day of the year 2004.
It wasn't a simple job.
That wasn't all it was; it was the job of a lifetime.

'Through the ages I'll remember'�

Blue eyes crying in the rain.

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