Photo A Day, Day 13: Part of Me

I am posting this a day late because, quite honestly, I just didn’t get around to it yesterday. And I may be cheating a bit by pulling out an old photo instead of taking a new one. But my immediate first thought on hearing the words, “part of me” was the lyrics to Billy Joel’s beautiful song, “Goodnight, My Angel.”

Goodnight, my angel
Time to close your eyes
And save these questions for another day
I think I know what you've been asking me
I think you know what I've been trying to say
I promised I would never leave you
And you should always know
Wherever you may go
No matter where you are
I never will be far away

Goodnight, my angel
Now it's time to sleep
And still so many things I want to say
Remember all the songs you sang for me
When we went sailing on an emerald bay
And like a boat out on the ocean
I'm rocking you to sleep
The water's dark and deep
Inside this ancient heart
You'll always be a part of me

Goodnight, my angel
Now it's time to dream
And dream how wonderful your life will be
Someday your child may cry
And if you sing this lullabye
Then in your heart
There will always be a part of me

Someday we'll all be gone
But lullabyes go on and on...
They never die
That's how you and I will be

I loved this song before I had children, but once my own children were born, it rang true to me in a way it couldn’t have before. I rocked my babies to sleep with this lullaby many a night, and it brought tears to my eyes every single time. My children represent my future, my way of helping the world to continue on. They represent to me the promise of the future, the potential of greatness. I love to dream of “how wonderful their lives will be.” Their happiness is my happiness. Because they are a part of me. The best part of me.