time certainly does fly, but all the more so when every Daddy grimly observes the ticking clock against the dreaded time his “little girl” lets go of his protective hand.

however, those fears can be reasonably set aside for the moment, because its that magical time of year, again. and, the 7th Annual – My Princess Dance is upon us! it is! so, mark your calendars! guard the date, and fiercely so! Saturday, February 18th at 630pm to 9pm at The Foundry at Puritan Hill. stand firm, goodly men, and register, here.

to be sure, you’ve read earlier stories on this Blog from last year, God gave me daughters. What did He give you?, Its time for a Princess to Dance!, the Princess and the me, and, investing in my daughters.

consider forging a few stories of your own.

I have three Princesses in my immediate family with the girl of my dreams at my side, and two daughters that I’m determined will realize their own.

I coach a good number of princesses in soccer. but, that is different. and, the stuff of other stories. you can always read about those adventures, here. now, I’m also coaching young lads in Lacrosse with the best hopes of influencing them to be gallant around any right Princess. more on all that, to be certain.

Haley Anne and I went to the first “Daddy/ Daughter Dance” six short years ago after a heads-up from Woody Faulk (a father of four girls of his own) let me know he would be hosting this inspiring event. it has quickly became an Atlanta-area tradition. Last year the event was renamed, and aptly so, “My Princess Dance,” and held at the InterContinental Hotel in Buckhead. More than five hundred fathers and daughters came to that My Princess Dance, and they are, and all of them, forever changed. complete with princesses, carriages, chocolate fountains, and a knighting ceremony, the evening was spectacular.

Haley Anne kicked me to the curb after seventh grade and I started taking Emma Jo to the dance. the experience has been brilliant for us all, and I’m keen to share it with any man that understands how important he is in the life of his daughter. I’m convinced this is a vital bond where God really trusts some of us with daughters. the anticipation builds with talks about pretty dresses and an afternoon getting hair and nails done (or, Mommy can certainly do that!). it’s dancing practice and perhaps a special dinner. then come the shared secrets and the memories that enchant a life-time realized in only the span of a few hours that leave us all the more excited about the next year.

the My Princess Dance is all about the importance of family by stopping the busy-ness of life, and spending time with those we love, and cherish, the most.

read more about My Princess Dance in this story, printed by the Atlanta-Journal Constitution: bit.ly/fLhOUt. do it!

and, then watch the video below for a sense of what is yet to come (sorry if it’s bleeding over on this blog page. it’s videos fault, and not mine own – yet, I’ll forgive almost anything that helps me share this wondrous event with you all.

peace be to my Brothers and Sisters.

brian patrick cork

the, or any story, of and around Spartacus is epic, albeit not actually Biblical, or historically factual.

and, if you’ve managed to catch: Spartacus – Blood and Sand on STARZ, you know it’s a visual, if not visceral, treat. there was also Spartacus – Gods of the Arena, and soon Spartacus – Vengeance, come January 2012, in the series. but, most shows are memorable, less so for the story, and more so for the charisma of an actor, or ensemble cast.

that was the case for Australian Andy Whitfield.

tragically, Whitfield left us with cancer to blame earlier this month.

oddly, I never met Whitfield. but, I won’t soon forget him. he was fun on Spartacus. but, evidently he was a much larger-than-life hero in the real flesh, and hopefully in the hearts, memories, and mirrors of his beautiful children. but, he has a rare opportunity to leave something behind that transcends grief. read the short story below with gratitude in your heart for an actor of no mean skill and a brilliant example to any parent:

Tragic actor Andy Whitfield’s widow has revealed how her brave husband broke the news he was dying to the couple’s two kids last week.

The Spartacus: Blood and Sand star lost his battle with cancer on 11 September, but had time to say goodbye to his children Jesse Red, six, and Indigo Sky, four.

His widow Vashti tells Australia’s The Telegraph, “(He said)”:

“I am going to go to sleep now as my body won’t work anymore. I am like a butterfly with broken wings… I will always be with you and will always be watching over you. I love you.”

there is that old Muslim maxim that allows: “there is the punishment in the promise, and the promise in the punishment.” to wit…

evidently Whitfields children look so much like him that his wife says:

“They can look in the mirror every day and see their dad.”

thank God my own daughters don’t look like me. but, I hope I can reflect the virtues enough of Whitfield to mirror such sentiment and earn a good memory in their hearts.

peace be to my Brothers and Sisters.

brian patrick cork

so…

most of you will never have the pleasure of meeting, let alone really knowing, Mr. Robert _______.

Robert is the third generation owner and operator of a highly specialized business that has transformed the lives of countless people for three generations.

I reckon it was about a year ago Robert contacted me just to let me know he was going to “follow” me and see if it made sense to have me coach him.

“I’m not clear what is meant by your being a ‘cultural architect’ but your name comes up in interesting circles and I like what you say about helping men make better decisions”.

that was great affirmation, I think (and, thought). however, when he contacted my in June asking if he could sign-on with me I was astonished that it was me that received the first lesson, and it remains a doozy.

Robert has a child with “special needs”. that child will never have a typical leadership in Robert’s family business. but, what happens around the boy clearly reflects a culture, way of life, and view of the world that both inspires, and explains why the organization is so hugely successful.

at a point in the first rounds of getting better acquainted Robert explained to me that,

“God really trusts me. I think that is why He gave us Bobby. …or, He may think he needs to keep testing me on my toes. But either way He evidently cares enough to be in our lives because the experiences make me richer than any business venture I can imagine”.

seriously.

I’m confident this is not always the case. but, it seems to me I know a good number of men with special needs kids that always impress me. they are unique people, to be sure. it makes me think of the Muslim maxim:

“the promise is in the punishment, and the punishment is in the promise”.

or, something to that effect.

Monday I was finished with a good running work-out at Northpark on one the turf fields. as I was driving away I noticed two men on a bench apparently just breathing in life. as I drew past the pair I noticed one was younger. I’ll assume he was a son. he had is arms crossed over his lap and he was rocking himself back-and-forth. he had that “blinking’ and haggard look about him that often signals the challenged. but, what gave me the good pause was a man that I want to assume is his earthly father was relaxed, enjoying the moment with a hand draped across the back of the bench and gently stroking the lads shoulder. I was convinced this was simply a loving father with his son. they were good for one another.

I don’t have a point today. I simply wanted to share this with you. me? I want to stay moved awhile. and, inspired. and, thankful – if only, at times, by a simple perspective.

we all have special needs.

peace be to my Brothers and Sisters.

brian patrick cork

it was just a hug.

I thought it was a good hug.

longer than most.

that was it.

goodbye.

brian patrick cork