Isn’t She Lovely?

Man, time flies when you’re getting old. I mentioned the other week that I started writing this column 15 years ago. That also happened to be the same year our daughter was born. The other weekend we celebrated her 15th birthday. Of course, today’s 15-year-old is yesterday’s 20-year-old. Kids seem to mature so quickly these days, or maybe it’s because I’m a parent?

When I was 15, I was still reading comic books, watching cartoons and dressing like Kelso of That Seventies Show. Today, kids are all about texting, Instagram and dressing like the Kardashians. Not good. I suppose my dad had the same concern about my sister back then. She had the Farrah Fawcett feathered hairstyle and wore hot pants and tube tops.

As her older brother, it didn’t bother me that much – although if any guys got wise with her, my brother and I were all over it. As far as my daughter goes, I think this is payback for all the mischief I got into with girls back in my heyday.

Anyway, on her birthday, our daughter also was scheduled to perform with her hula halau and Tahitian troupe at Ala Moana Centerstage. It didn’t dawn on me until she was on stage how much of a beautiful young woman she’s grown into. The dance costumes elevated that feeling, especially her Tahitian feathered two-piece. Seeing her shaking those hips gave me a queasy feeling.

I was in the packed audience and standing next to a group of teenage boys. When my daughter came out with her Tahitian dance troupe and they started doing their thing, the boys got quite animated. I couldn’t help but think they were focused on my daughter. I “kinda” got in their face and asked, “What the heck are you looking at?” I think I was overreacting to an adolescent hormone response the boys had going on. I backed off and found myself saying a little prayer.

It’s the Tahitian dancer’s father’s prayer: “Please don’t let that bandeau top fall off!”