“The Dash Between” (Verse 1) Mamoo arrived with a suitcase in her hand Ninety years of living, still making her own stand Friday nights we’d slip away, margaritas on the table She smiled and said, “Nobody ever asked me if I’m able” Dignity ain’t independence—it’s about being seen She taught me that in her final year In the space between (Chorus) We are given two dates carved in stone The day we arrive, the day we’re called home But what defines us when the story’s told Is the dash between—the love we hold Not the rank we wear, not the wars we’ve won But how we showed up for everyone The scars, the laughter, the breath we carried through The dash between—it’s how we loved you (Verse 2) Rick told me, “Stay loose, relax your hands, just run” When I nearly walked away, my faith in people done Red Rider fried a frozen turkey, turned chaos into light Dave built something steady every single time Mom raised four wild boys with grace I can’t describe She wrapped her arms around me: “Cars replaced, but not your life” (Chorus) We are given two dates carved in stone The day we arrive, the day we’re called home But what defines us when the story’s told Is the dash between—the love we hold Not the rank we wear, not the wars we’ve won But how we showed up for everyone The scars, the laughter, the breath we carried through The dash between—it’s how we loved you (Bridge) I’ve been married to the job longer than anyone That’s not pride—it’s a reckoning begun Cris with gentle patience, Amy with second chances shown Travis with his grin, Cody making house a home The pill bottle waits, but each breath carries thanks For the family who loved me—not my rank (Verse 3) Mom sits with me now in loving kindness meditation Her presence healing wounds across the separation Dad and Cece have been our core for 50 years My sister, Kris, raising a family of her own “When will you retire?” they ask, and I reply “When I stop enjoying this”—like Wilbur, I choose life I whisper, “Not today” Not today (Final Chorus - Building) We are given two dates carved in stone The day we arrive, the day we’re called home But what defines us when the final siren fades Is the dash between—the difference that we made The pebbles that we carried, the presence that we gave The boy upon the sidewalk, the ones we couldn’t save The weight we learned to carry with clarity and grace The dash between our dates—it’s love that leaves a trace (Outro - Gentle, spoken/sung) The dash is not measured in rank or recognition It’s measured in how we showed up—through every hard decision May the dash between our dates tell one enduring truth: We protected the human behind the badge And remembered our own Remembering our own, loving that leaves a trace
