Dear Dad

What do you give to a father, a man who has given everything and asked for nothing? What do you say to him who has worked countless hours, spent countless dollars, changed countless diapers, and endured screaming babies, defiant teenagers, and ungrateful children? How do you thank someone to whom you are in immeasurable debt, for bringing you into this world and helping you survive, learn, grow, thrive, and live?

How do say, “you’re my hero?”

This was my attempt, complete with a few family favorite pictures that I have restored and color corrected:

Dear Dad,

For nearly 27 years, I have hassled you, teased you, rubbed your nice shiny head, and probably driven you to the brink of insanity and made you wonder if having me was a mistake. Hopefully, through it all, I have also made you proud. Now that I’m old (words of Alex), I can reflect on the sacrifices that you have made for me – some of which I cannot entirely conceive of until I have my own children.

I love you dad!

I love the bows you put on your head at Christmas time just because we think it’s funny (even though it’s probably pretty uncomfortable, but hey, it gives you “hair” for a day)!

I love that you “think to the next phase,” even though that makes me a little crazy when you’re helping us remodel.

I love your Yoda voice. It’s identical to the real thing!

I love that you used me as slave labor let me help build the jungle gym and other various DIY projects since I was a wee lass – yes, I blame you for giving me the knowledge to remodel my entire house by myself!

I love the sour face you make when we eat cocktail onions. I’ll never understand why you don’t like those things…

I love that every time I hear a Duran Duran, Bon Jovi, or Tom Petty song, I hear the lyrics in your voice. Woah, livin’ on a prayer…Yea, you hear it in your high voice too, don’t ya?

I love that you’ve passed on to me a love for photography by making us take thousands pictures in front of every sign and carrying around 3-4 cameras on various limbs of your body at one time.

I love how good you’ve gotten at taking self-portraits with a camera! Not everyone can get their whole face in the picture every time!

I love you because you’re a crazy daredevil with a death wish you take us out on adventures like jet skiing, rock climbing, mountain biking, white water rafting, tall rock jumping, snowboarding, motorcycle riding…. heck, just driving in the car with you can be an adrenaline pumping adventure! You crazy old lead foot you!

I love how you made sure we have good memories from growing up, like going out for “dead dog burgers” after piano lessons, soft serve ice cream, fiddling with me on the violin and you on the guitar, Dr. Dreadful bedtime stories, and going to the park in the dark.

I love when you give me a hard time for calling mom first, because you miss me and want me to call you first sometimes.

I love the time we sat by the fire by the Christmas tree and talked. Just you and me.

I love the time when I sat at the altar, across from my soon to be husband, and said a silent prayer that he would be a good father to our kids like you were to us. I loved seeing the tears in your eyes, and knowing that I did something to make you proud.

Happy Father’s Day to the best dad I know. Thanks for everything you have done for us.

Love,

Lannie

P.S. I forgive you for putting that embarrassing cat toy on my forehead…and for never letting me live it down!

This picture is known as the famous "cat toy picture." My dad thought it was funny to stick a cat toy on my forehead.  Yes it is embarrassing. And yes, I'm posting it because it very much describes the relationship between daddy and daughter :)