DISCOVERING MY DAUGHTER

SHE'S 25 YEARS OLD AND I'M SEEING HER FOR THE FIRST TIME.
HOW DO I FEEL? Here's how our first moments together went. (for the benefit of you, my readers, I almost always carry a camera with me) SO HOW DO I FEEL?

Absolutely wonderful.  I love her at first sight. She sits on my couch and smiles for the first time at her biological father. We've been chatting for weeks and are quite comfortable with each other.  She's hungry.  I tell her I can make pancakes in less than 3 minutes.  She doesn't believe me---looks at my clock and says "go".

She is amazed-- records my speedy kitchen shuffle on her cell phone.

DONE!!---in 2 minutes and 20 seconds. I think I've impressed her-- and I record the moment of triumph for you.

We spend the whole day together: A trip to Ft Bliss Museum--

Shopping at the PX.

Sunday, I took her to a Unitarian church. (We arrived early)

On another day she and her husband James took me to a hocky game.

My first!  Jeez--what a rush--what a clash of wills--saw a player knocked out cold--they hauled him off the ice and continued with a replacement..  

On another day, her mother Judith arrives--still lovely.  It's been 25 years--of course we have much to discuss.

Here she was then--a quintesential Mexican beauty.

Dont be judgy of me--You couldn't have resisted her either.  Of course I was swept away--like the cowboy in Marty Robbins song "EL PASO".

They all came to see me in my American Legion campsite.

Bringing photos showing me what I missed.

RANDY PHILOSOPHIZES:  I BEGAN TO CRY--HALF REGRET AT WHAT I MISSED,  HALF JOY THAT I HAVE A SECOND CHANCE to participate in her life.

In a private moment I said to her mother: Can you forgive me? She said "of course!   You didn't know!  Let's move forward!"  HOW VERY KIND---I promised to be the best Johnny-come-lately father in the world.