By the Dashboard Lights

David Friedli

Lyons Mirror-Sun

Dad Being Dad

April 24, 2008

Corey grimaced as she hit the review button on her digital camera and the photograph popped up on the screen.

“Oh, dad. Just like last year.”

I smiled. “It is tradition.”

Corey’s escort squinted to examine the photo of a beautiful young girl in her prom dress.

Specially quaffed hair, makeup and jewelry accentuated my 17-year-old daughter’s natural beauty.

Her date looked closer and then shook his head.

“Does your dad always do that?” he asked.

“Yup. Yearly.”

“It’s sort of a tradition, don’t you think,” I replied.

“Not a good tradition.”

Ok, what am I to do? Here is my youngest daughter, put up in her spring formal finery, and here is middle-aged dad in black jeans and a black mock turtleneck.

Even on the small screen, the gray in my hair is obvious. I can’t compete with her.

So, last year, after numerous “straight up” takes prior to her prom, for the last photo I turned my head toward hers and mimicked a big kiss.

A smooch on the cheek. A sign of affection.

She never saw it coming. And never knew it until she reviewed those photos.

Apparently, she didn’t remember what I consider a tradition.

I did a similar thing for my first daughter on her way to prom. It just seemed like the thing to do.

As said before, this was her night. Her date, a nice young man from out of town (“Just friends, dad.”) was dressed well. His tie matched her gown.

Their smiles complimented each other.

When I watched them walk down the mock boardwalk runway of the island-themed Grand March prior to the prom dance, they looked like royalty.

Me? Just a serf. I couldn’t compete with my daughter’s style and grace.

Elegance. An aire of sophistication. Class.

So, I mugged for the camera. Just dad being dad.

But here’s the thing: these days are fleeting. This is the last high school prom. Soon graduation will arrive. Off to college.

Perhaps another “just friend”. Who knows for sure?

But through it all, whether I actually press my lips to that cheek to express my care, concern and love for her, I will always have it in my heart, and I want her to know it.

If she remembers because it’s goofy, all the better. She will have a couple of photographs to prove it.