For as long as I can remember my dad has always been there for me. Through everything I did in life, good and bad. Up until recently I haven’t realized how important he is to me and how much I take him for granted.
Two people I know have lost their dads recently and that really made me realize how special mine is. He cheers me up when I’m sad, calms me down when I’m mad, and he is one of my biggest supporters.
Some of my greatest memories as a child are because of him. When I was seven or eight, we went to a father-daughter dance hosted by my girl scout troop, and we got all dressed up. I’m a very shy person, which I get from my father. So when we show up to the dance, we’re both standing in the back watching everyone else dance and have fun. My dad then takes my hand and leads me out of the building where the dance was held and drove us to the mall. It took me a while to realize what we were doing, but when I did my night instantly got better. We were going mini golfing. We looked ridiculous in our fancy clothes, but it was the most fun I had all night.
Another memory I have with my dad is when I was six he took me to see one of my favorite singers at the time in concert, Shania Twain. He won the tickets from a radio station and took me because he knew how much I loved her music. I remember sitting on his shoulders so I could see above everyone else and having the time of my life. I fell asleep on his shoulder to my favorite song, “You’re Still the One”.
My prayers go out to those families who have lost their dads because I could never imagine losing mine. I am so lucky to have had these memories with my dad and to have the ability to make more with him in the future.