Sweet Angel
by
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Danielle had two close male friends named Bob and Lumpy. They were always by her side, and helped me by keeping an eye on crowd control. Bob and Lumpy were the kind of friends that Danielle seemed to attract. They loved to party, but they felt a responsibility to protect Danielle. Many of her friends were a reflection of herself. They flat out loved her. Most of them, now, think of her as their personal Guardian Angel.
Danielle spent the fall of 1994 working on her music, rehearsing for a play that was scheduled for the Christmas season and seeing a new boyfriend named Brad. I didn't realize until much later that Danielle really cared for Brad. He was hard for me to get to know. Every time I saw him, he had a baseball cap pulled down over his eyes, and he never spoke. But, Brad and Danielle saw a lot of each other, and she would continually tell me that I would like him if I got to know him. She was right.
Brad was actually the inspiration for what many of us feel was her best song, "The Answer". The lyrics are on her gravestone. She wrote the song after she and Brad split up. She was lonely and hurt, but made the realization that God would always be with her. Now that song helps many of us live with the hurt of losing her.
One of the most inspiring performances of Danielle's life, maybe the most inspiring, in my estimation, was as "Clarece", the angel, in the Hartland High School winter play, the classic, "It's A Wonderful Life". As everyone knows, who has seen the movie, the angel is actually an older man named "Clarence". But, Danielle's audition was so incredible, that the director actually changed the name of a character, to accommodate using her. We found out why, when we went to see the play.
Danielle, as always, was the character, and not herself. I applaud the work of the director, and whoever was in charge of make-up and costumes, because she actually had a heavenly glow. She wasn't just some 17-year-old girl with a white robe on. She was vibrant. I remember being totally stunned. She was so beautiful, and she seemed to have that "all knowing" look of an angel. I sometimes wonder if God wasn't giving us a preliminary look into the future. That was every bit the Danielle that I hope to see again in Heaven. And, then, she spoke--------.Never, had I heard a voice like that! Never before in her life had I ever heard her use that voice. No matter how I would describe it, I couldn't do it justice. Clarece sounded like a very young girl and a very old lady at the same time. And, she did it so naturally. Her look and the sound of her voice still send a chill down my spine, as I recall her performance.
Once again, as happened so many times, I found myself in a theatre, watching an actress perform, but not seeing the acting. She WAS Clarece! I only wish she could come down to visit with me the way she did with George (in the play). I know that Danielle got her wings!
Back at the old farmhouse, that we lived in, things were pretty spooky. We all heard sounds, saw shadows and felt the presence of something. What or who, we didn't know.
***
"How could you do this to me, Daddy, I'm never going to make it now. You are going to have to carry me!" I said, "OK, but who is going to carry me?"
We continued on, and got back on the path. Then, it happened! While Danielle was singing, and I was focussed on her, I stepped on, what I thought was a twig, until I looked. It was a snake! Probably the only snake along that four-mile path, and I stepped on him, just like Danielle said I would! I had the shivers for ten minutes, and she almost peed her pants, laughing so hard.
As we descended down the last hill on the route, Danielle became very concerned about her footing. It was the steepest hill of all. She was afraid that holding onto my arm wouldn't be enough. She asked me to face her. She grabbed my shoulders, so that I was actually walking backwards down the hill. I'm sure it looked ridiculous, but it worked! I remember looking into her eyes, during those moments, and seeing my "little" girl.
After we completed the walk, I don't think I had ever seen her so tired----..or happy. That moment will remain frozen in my mind forever.
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About the Book
I present to you, perhaps, one of the most compelling stories you will ever read. It’s the story of my daughter, who died suddenly, in a head-on collision, just six weeks short of her 19th birthday, on June 28, 1996. There are a number of reasons why I have written this book, and why it may be widely accepted. Foremost is the fact that I chronicled her extraordinary life from the eyes of a loving father. Sweet Angel is a heartwarming story about the life of a young woman who was adored by all that knew her, not because she was perfect, but because she wasn’t. Danielle was a microcosm of all of us. She taught us how to look adversity in the eye, and overcome it. She did it over and over again. She fought demons (figuratively) within her and won. Good defeated bad. She was redeemed. She asked for forgiveness and received it. Her life ended in tragedy, but even in death she was triumphant. Danielle wrote 19 songs and sang them all over three states. She was referred to as a ‘singing prophet.’ She named one of her songs "Sweet Angel." She sang of an angel that was "shining down upon her," and telling her that her time was short. The angel did not frighten Danielle. As a matter of fact the angel comforted Danielle. Danielle loved life to the fullest, but was aware of its frailties. There were many spiritual events before her death, and even more since. But, while she was with us there was no one who was more alive and sensitive to the world that surrounded her. Danielle Diana Heard was gifted with several incredible talents. Many have said that she had the singing and song writing talent of Jewel, and the acting ability of Meg Ryan. Her talent agent was quoted as saying, "Out of over 300, she stood out. Her beauty and talent just blew me away. She would have been really, really big!" He was about to take Danielle to Los Angeles to meet movie and record producers. But, her greatest gifts may have included her compassion for all of mankind, her love of animals and Mother Nature, and her devotion to God. As you read Sweet Angel you will laugh with her, cry with her, and love her as if you have always known her. She would want you to get to know her. And, once you do get to know her, you will never forget her. To buy Amy Heard''s CD, go to: http://www.amyheard.com
About the Author
I am a man who has never looked at the grass as being greener on the other side. I have been blessed with the best wife and three daughters on earth, bar none. Since my youngest daughter Danielle died suddenly in a car crash in 1996, I have spent almost every conscious moment trying to recapture her essence. I walk open fields and enjoy Mother Nature, as she did. I listen to the music that she wrote and performed. I have talked to hundreds about her life. I have asked God why, and I cry at missing her. God has answered me, and when I did not think the message was clear enough, He gave me another. My faith has grown. I have accepted God’s love and grace, and trust that He will make all things beautiful in His own time. Although my wife Paula and I were dealt the worst possible news that a parent could receive, and even though our hearts are broken, we continue to love. We know that "It Is Well" with Danielle’s soul. I am a simple man. I love writing, baseball and family. I can be emotional and open about my feelings and thoughts. And for that I am glad, because that openness is what has enabled me to write about my daughter’s profound life. Danielle and I share many characteristics. The two I am most proud of are (1) the ability to clown and make people smile, and (2) our love of Jesus Christ. The latter is why there is still a’glint’ of happiness within me. Danielle and I, as well as her mother, and sisters Tammy and Amy, enjoy reaching out to strangers. I would be happy to talk one on one, or to large groups, about "Sweet Angel." There are many lessons to be learned from this true-life story. I know that you will laugh and cry as you read "Sweet Angel," but as the author, it is my hope that you will love even more. As God has given us the gift of Danielle, please accept this book as a gift from her family. Daniel W. Heard