Say Hey and I love you!

Nearly two years ago my granddaughter had a terrible fall from a window and fought for her life for a month in intensive care, with a long time of healing that followed. Today she is a healthy, happy six year old, fully recovered. The story of her fall is recounted in this post. 

"Say Hey" by Michael Franti and Spearhead (both the song and the video) helped me get through that terrible time. I played it over and over in my car, singing, crying, hoping. I watched the video on the rare times I was home from the hospital. Eventually it made its way on to a playlist called "Warrior Girl" I made for my grandchild and the circle of family and friends helping her through. 

"Say Hey" became our song together - grandma and grandchild. 

Since then, when the song comes into rotation, usually while we are driving, I remind her that it's our song and we sing along together. It is a happy song for us, about our deep connection, our love, and about her survival.

Last weekend we went to Duluth with a friend and her child for a day-long family oriented music festival that culminated in a performance by Michael Franti and Spearhead.

It turned out to be a magical, emotional day for me, and a day of fun and adventure for her.

One of the free activities for kids was a climbing wall, which my grandchild tried for the first time yet scrambled up like an old pro - a spidergirl. Strong and unafraid. I was flooded with emotions, thinking "the girl who fell now climbs to the sky."

Later, when Franti and his band played, she danced and danced to every song, swirling and twirling as dusk turned to night, completely losing herself in the music and the moment. 

But no "Say Hey."

Then, like magic, when the band came out for its encore, Franti invited "all children and people over 60" to the stage and he played our song. My grandchild and her friend made it on to the stage. I watched her up there, dancing and singing, and my heart burst open all over again. With love. With gratitude. And with deep appreciation for a song that seals our love with a great big fat sloppy kiss.

Rocking in the dance hall moving with you/Dancing in the night in the middle of June/My momma told me don’t lose you/Cause the best luck I had was you.

Say Hey and I love you/I love you/I love you/I love you.