The Wind Beneath My Wings

By Judy Tanner, Dana, North Carolina

WEB EXCLUSIVE

My daddy died 16 years ago. I was an only child and Daddy’s girl, so it was pretty rough for me. Still is. Sometimes when I’m feeling blue, I sit at the piano and let my feelings go. I learned to play Bette Midler’s “Wind Beneath My Wings” not long after Daddy died. To me, it summed up everything he meant to me and I play it often.

Normally on Daddy’s birthday, I’d hurry home after work. But this year, I wasn’t quite ready to face my memories and my grief.  

I decided to take a quick detour. There’s a bead store on the way home where I buy supplies for stringing necklaces and bracelets. I don’t really need any right now, but maybe I’ll just look around, I thought. It would give me a chance to stop and see Rosie, the shopkeeper’s cat. Petting her soft orange and white fur would put me in a better mood.

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I parked and entered the shop. A boxful of deep, blue beads caught my eye. As the clerk was ringing up my purchase, I asked, “Where’s Rosie?” She wasn’t in her usual spot, in her bed beneath the cash register.

The clerk scurried off, trying to find Rosie. It took her a few minutes, longer than I had intended to stay. “Here she is,” the clerk called. Rosie had climbed atop a soft, leather couch. I sat down and petted her. Quietly, almost to myself, I whispered, “Today is my daddy’s birthday, Rosie. He loved sweet, cuddly cats, too.”

I tried to leave, but Rosie rubbed her cheek against my hand and I just couldn’t go. Just then, in the background, soothing music came from the radio.

The first notes of a new song began. Bette Midler’s voice filled the room. “Did you ever know that you’re my hero?” she sang.

It was like a message from Daddy. I’m still watching over you, he seemed to say. Suddenly, I couldn’t wait to get home. I had a song to play.