Goodnight Sweetheart

When Jackie was little and it was time for bed, her parents and Pop Pop would unanimously begin singing an all too familiar tune. "Ba-da-da-da-da. Goodnight Sweetheart. Well, it's time to go... I hate to leave you but I really must say 'Goodnight Sweetheart, Goodnight.'"

Sometimes when they've together had a rough day, or either one in particular, Jackie will dance Dane around the room slowly before bed and softly serenade him with this soothing oldie. As she did this tonight, she drifted off into dream herself. As she held him close, she thought about all that she had been through with him; all that he had been through. She thought about dancing with him when he got big enough to lead. And then ultimately, she thought about who would lead when they were to dance together at his wedding. Every mom wishes that someday her son be married happily (although it may be painful to relinquish title of the woman in his life). She cried thinking about all that they will go through together between now and Dane's wedding day. Boo boos, bad grades, back talk, broken hearts. And she thought about how she would cry dancing with her son at his reception. She thought about how only she would know what Dane was whispering in her ear as the world watched on. "I hate to leave you but I really must say, Goodnight Mom, Goodnight".

She thought about how she loved him. And then, how she'd love him to go to sleep.

Goodnight Sweetheart.