...and what about Rainbows?

I always think of rainbows as a beautiful symbol of hope.  They are rare and special.  They are magical.  They are mysterious.

When Emily was born, Mike spontaneously started singing her 'The Rainbow Connection',  usually with a throaty Kermit-the-Frog voice.  Once it started, it just stuck.  And because Mike could never resist a little personal touch WITH a nickname, he changed the words to 'Why are there so many songs about Emo...'.  He would sing it often, when she was very very small, holding and rocking her.  It would bring tears to his eyes every time.  He opened a folder in iTunes titled: 'Emily'.  In it are two songs, 'The Rainbow Connection' (Muppet-style) and 'Superman'.   The Superman theme-song was the other special Mike and Emily song, which involved flying her around the house.  When babies are tiny infants, they hold their whole bodies stiff (not flopping down like a 4 year old I know)... which would get all of us laughing watching Mike gently fly Emily around the house while singing 'duh-duh-duh-duh'  (yep, that's the theme song?!) with an extra little air-lift just at the right spot in the music.

Here are the lyrics to The Rainbow Connection:

Why are there so many songs about rainbows

and what's on the other side?

Rainbows are visions, but only illusions,

and rainbows have nothing to hide.

So we've been told and some choose to believe it.

I know they're wrong, wait and see.

Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection.

The lovers, the dreamers and me.

Who said that every wish would be heard

and answered when wished on the morning star?

Somebody thought of that and someone believed it.

Look what it's done so far.

What's so amazing that keeps us star gazing

and what do we think we might see?

Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection.

The lovers, the dreamers and me.

All of us under its spell. We know that it's probably magic.

Have you been half asleep and have you heard voices?

I've heard them calling my name.

Is this the sweet sound that called the young sailors.

The voice might be one and the same.

I've heard it too many times to ignore it.

It's something that I'm supposed to be.

Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection.

The lovers, the dreamers and me.

Reading the lyrics to this song makes me think about the courage Mike had facing his illness.  And what a rainbow connection Emily and her daddy will always have.  It's one of many many songs that brings us close to Mike-- his smile, his laughter, his silly dancing, and his love for all of us.