I was crying as we left
each other at the front door
not wanting to go on the airplane
and across the world.
But she spoke words into my heart
and imagination; a new story
to tell and to live, “Dad,
think of this as a side quest.”
And as I sit here and prepare to board
I am helped, for that vision
helps and heals. It is a quest now
but it wasn’t before. And
even more than that, I am helped
to know I have a daughter who
might cast such a journey as a
quest and would be willing to speak
those words to her dad.