You are my hero. You have been such a wonderful father.
You have always been there for me. I thank you for that. Thank you for protecting me, for believing in me, for making me want to make you proud.
When I think about our relationship, biology and last names seem trivial. They are labels that put others at ease, but don’t speak to what’s in a person’s heart. I am your daughter and I am grateful that you chose me. I’m glad you saw a very little girl that needed a father and decided to be that man. My life has been made better because of that decision.
If I am successful, it is because of your guidance and encouragement.
Thank you for teaching me how to drive – an automatic and stick shift.
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| My family - 1980s |
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| Me & My Dad - 5/3/2003 |
Thank you for helping to ease me into my first year of college: Taking me out to eat, picking me up and taking me home every weekend and listening to me.
Thank you for believing in me and encouraging me and keeping my secrets.
Thank you for walking me down the aisle and marrying me and Ray.
Thank you for being someone I can always count on.
I’m proud of the man you are, Dad. It’s been interesting for me to watch you grow and change as a person. My 35 year old dad is different than my 59 year old one. You’ve mellowed a bit with age, but you are still my Dad: Smart, funny, a guy’s guy, a foodie, a lover of action movies, stubborn, tech savvy and I think you believe yourself to be impervious to illness or pain. That’s fine with me: when I was a little girl, I believed it too.
I just want you to know that I appreciate you. I thank you for giving me the best you had. I’m here to tell you, it was more than enough. You gave me wings.
It’s what I hope I’m giving your grandchildren.
Thank you for everything, Daddy.
Love,
Shayla
