The Little Pirate

I never meant for it to happen. In fact, I had guarded against it. I never wanted to totally give my heart to even one more person. My world was perfect. My heart was full. But at first sight of my first grandchild, a girl no less (five years ago today, June 14^th) I caved. I didn’t really have much of a choice. She was more beautiful than I could have imagined. I was overwhelmed with love immediately!

Her first day home from the hospital I “volunteered” to hold her and rock her while the rest of the family got a little sleep. I have to admit, this was a scene I hadn’t rehearsed. And though I still remember the basics of newborn care, I hadn’t thought about what I would do in this our first “Nana/Brileigh time”.

She was fussy but I didn’t care. Her cries were music to my ears and then I remembered. Music. Maybe she needs music for her ears, too. Like I said, I hadn’t rehearsed this part and so I had to improvise. I launched into the first song that came to mind- a lullaby I had sung to her father and uncle as I rocked them.

 

Bye-lo baby.  Bye-lo baby.  Bye-lo baby.  Bye-lo baby bye

(to the tune of “Go Tell Aunt Rhody)

Almost immediately she stopped crying and listened until her eyes started to close. Overcome by the beauty of the moment, I’d start to cry and couldn’t find my singing voice. So she would open her eyes and cry until I started singing again. Two hours of singing – crying  – crying – singing and I had run through my entire repertoire several times. By then a parent or another grandparent demanded equal time. But with this I was totally hooked -totally in love with this child -totally had my heart stolen away by a little seven-pound pirate.

I’m still hooked after five years and as I watch her grow into a beautiful, kind, compassionate girl, I can’t imagine my world without her.

Shortly after that event I started on a lyric that her dad and I have been working on ever since. Maybe we’ll save it until one day someone steals her heart away … the little pirate.

Here’s our song for that day.

 

When She Smiles

©Nan Allen, Drew Allen

 I built a world around myself

A perfect world I always kept

Neat and clean

And all about me

I wouldn’t let anybody in

I didn’t need anybody then

Or at least I thought

That’s what I thought

But she came along invaded my space

With a toothless grin that covers her whole face

Now when she smiles

My world falls apart

I go weak in the knees

I feel daggers through my heart

I can hardly breathe

All my walls come tumbling down

I melt into one big pile

When she smiles

I must admit it was not my plan

To see myself as the other man

But here I am

To give her hand

Never thought she’d find a guy

Who could love her even more than I

Or at least I thought

That’s what I thought

But he came along and invaded my space

Now he looks at her and it shows all over his face

Still when she smiles

My world falls apart

I go weak in the knees

I feel daggers through my heart

I can hardly breathe

All my walls come tumbling down

I melt into one big pile

When she smiles

Happy 5^th birthday Brileigh Harper Allen! You’ll always be my girl!!