I didn't mention it at the time but my daughter got me the greatest gift for Father's Day. I didn't mention it before because it was one of those presents that meant so much and was so personal that I couldn't quite bring myself to discuss it without babbling. Now, a month later, I'm up to babbling.

Amanda's mom and I have been divorced for about 24 years now and among the things she kept all this time were our 8mm home movies. Amanda took two hours worth of them, had them all put on a single videotape and sent it to me.

There was a certain amount of trepidation before I put the tape in the player. I knew in general what was on it and felt certain I would not be able to get through the viewing with dry eyes. Boy was I right.

The first images were those of my pink and purple daughter squirming behind the glass in the hospital on her first day of life. The next 45 minutes or so was footage of her lying in her crib chewing on her fists, splashing in the tub and, of course, her first uncertain steps.

The tape brightened suddenly to outdoor light and I was transported to a day I remember quite well. The three of us had gone on a picnic at a nearby park. We were rehearsing a "bit" she was fond of. I'd put a hat on her head and she would giggle, take it off and throw it, over and over again. Two year olds never get tired of a game if there is giggling involved. She'd have gone on for hours. As I watched and squeegied my eyes with the heel of my hand I was reduced to jello. I felt like I was doing one of those corny home movie scenes with Alan Alda in MASH.

When Amanda waved at the camera with that grasping motion two year olds make with their fingers, I found myself waving back. How could I not? I was waving at the little girl who, in her adult form, had recently asked me on the phone if I was taking care of myself.

Just as that thought occurred I saw a 32 year old me lean forward, smell her hair, and smile. Does anybody else remember the smell of their baby's hair? I sure do.

Then Amanda's mom popped into the shot. A beautiful lady who still makes my heart skip a beat when she comes into view. Fortunately, Amanda got her mom's looks and brains. Praise the Lord.

It gave me pause to think about the turns we take in life, many of them in an effort to try to make our lives "better". As I watched that young father and his family, I tried hard to remember what he could have been thinking to make himself believe that things could ever have gotten better than that day in the park.

We humans often don't realize how good the things in our lives are until we no longer have them.

Amanda is now a delightful young lady in the second year of her master's program at the Universtiy of Houston. She's coming to visit me in a couple of weeks.

I wonder if I can talk her into letting me smell her hair?