Dear Dad,
This will be the fourth thanksgiving away from home and possibly the weirdest. I have never eaten thanksgiving dinner in another country, and this evening I will be eating dinner in Cambodia. Every year I seem to be thankful for the same type of things- family, friends, health, a job, etc. However, now that I have grown older- I am realizing how greatly I was raised. There are even more things I want to declare thankfulness over.
Thank you for giving me enough to make something of myself, but not so much to where I was unmotivated. This is a key component to growing up as an American kid. While I am considered spoiled for growing up in a Western society, you and mom always made me realize that I’m grateful to have what I have. You kept us in a modest environment; I mean I got my first job at 15 years old and needed rides to and from work. You always gave us used things and got yourself the new. If you treat something well, it will last you. Still I feel as if I have been totally spoiled by you, but now I understand what it looks like to have little and what it looks like to have much. I know you and mom wanted to show me both sides to motivate Trevor and I to make something of ourselves later in life so thank you.
I remember when I was 24 and I got laid off from my first big girl job. I was so distraught, all I wanted was to be taken out to dinner. However, when I called you pathetically asking you to buy me dinner you told me, “Kam this is life.” I remember you said that you were around if I really needed help, but these things happen and it’s good to endure them and figure it out. Me figuring it out led to moving all the way to California, but I did it. It was my choice- made on my own and you supported me. Sometimes the hard things are the best way to love people, thank you for loving me this way.
Thank you for allowing me to always try new things. You’re right I totally regret giving up on piano lessons, but you allowed me to be free and creative. I think I tried about 4 instruments in high school, not to mention that year of singing lessons, along with dance and volleyball. Dad I still suck at sports, but whatever team I wanted to go out for- you and mom let me give it a try. Now I wish I stuck to one thing, but I like knowing what I am good at and what I am not good at. And I know that was expensive and annoying to keep swapping hobbies so thank you.
Thank you for always coming up with inventive games when I was a little kid. I think we have a better relationship because you always kept me entertained when I was little. I remember pulling up to Addison Elementary school to see what size of line the cars would be. And I would always cheat and say it was a medium line of cars. Or when I would stop you from your work in the afternoon to see what picture you could make from one doodle. You always chose “cracking me up” over everything and for that I am thankful.
Thank you for caring enough to be crazy protective of me in high school. I remember I was always so annoyed or mad if you and mom wouldn’t let me go to a concert or a party or something when I was a teenager. I always thought it was so overbearing, but now that I have lived on my own for 6 or so years I realize how crazy the world is. People are unwell and real evil exists. Thank you for loving me enough to care where I was and what I was doing.
Thank for instilling traveling for both me and Trevor growing up. I was too young to appreciate going to Europe the first time, but it was definitely a seed planted. I think of all the places you and mom have allowed me to see by this young age that I am. I think of how many more places I want to go. I have such a hunger to see the world and everything that God has built into it. I know some of those things were sacrificial on the family, but thank you for choosing me anyway.
Thank you for raising me to be independent. I am not scared to move places or go out and do whatever I want to do. You and mom raised me to believe that the world is good and huge and I can have all the goodness of it that I seek.
Thank you for always supporting me in everything I choose. Thank you for coming around to the idea of me doing The World Race. I know it was not the most exciting or comforting news to hear your only daughter is going around the world to do who knows what, but you loved me so well by being involved. Thank you for deciding to come all the way to Africa in February without any further knowledge except that I will be there. You might not always understand what I do or why I do it, but you always support and trust that I am making good choices for myself. As an adult, that is a very high compliment.
Happy Thanksgiving dad, I love you.
-Kam
