Pride

"Do you ever tire of it?" I asked Becky.
"Never," she answered. "In fact, it still makes me cry sometimes."

I've heard Dani sing a thousand times, but Monday night was the first time I've seen her perform for an audience. She's performed at camp for a couple of years running, but I didn't get to see those.

This night, she was plugged in for the first time, using Luke's guitar and sound system, and opening for Poor Rich Folk at Fortress's Monday Night Coffee House. I was worried. Do you have a stool? Have you practiced with Luke's guitar? How do you know you'll be comfortable playing it? Don't you need to do a sound check? Dani answered each question with a roll of the eyes. "Mom. It's oh.kay. Chill."

I sat front and center and took pictures like a good scrapbooking Mom should. Someday, when Dani's accepting her statue for songwriting, they'll flash this picture up on the screen.

She performed beautifully and with such grace. Not a nervous bone in her body. She just went up there, sat down, introduced her songs by explaining why she wrote them and what they mean, and then she played. So comfortably. So beautifully. So easily.

"She has a beautiful voice," said Becky. "It's the kind of voice I always wished I had - silvery." I thought that was the neatest description. I wiped away the silent, hot tear that was rolling down my cheek. SO proud. My daughter, the singer-songwriter. Her lyrics, so deep and mature and meaningful. Powerful.

A few minutes later, when Luke took the stage with Poor Rich Folk and settled into his music, I watched Becky as she watched her son. I could see the pride and joy in her face. I could feel it, even. It's true what she said : you never DO get tired of it. And sometimes, it still makes her cry.