I went crowd surfing when I was 12. My dad saw the amazement in my eyes as I watched teenagers being hoisted into the air and carried across the sea of people. He leaned down to my level and yelled over the concert “Do you wanna do that?” I nodded my head yes and he told me that I would have to push through the crowd and find my way back to him. I said okay and then he proceeded to lift me over his head, and hand me over to the crowd, trusting that I could find my way back.
My whole life I have picked flowers, worn floral clothing, received flower drawings from friends. But only once did I come home to an entirely uprooted sunflower sitting on the kitchen table. Thanks to none other than, my dad. Him and my little brother Rocco were on their way home one weekend afternoon, saw the flower on the side of the road, pulled the car over and ripped it out of the ground because they thought of me.
One time when I was smaller, my family went on a trip and ended up out on the water, tubing. My dad and I were on the tube when it flipped over, tossing us in the water. My dad then, with all of his strength, held my body above his head, out of the water… even though I was wearing a life jacket because that is what he was willing to do to keep me safe.
My dad enjoys sharing the things he likes with the people around him, like Barbacoa. I remember as a little girl “trying” all my vegetables because growing up my dad taught me to “try everything once and if you don’t like it, just spit it out.” he said with a shrug. In the Philippines I ate Balut (google it). I didn’t spit it out.
My dad is also really funny. Throughout the house me and my siblings were constantly shouting “Momma!” because we needed her for something, as kids do, and my dad told us that we should follow our “Momma!” with “Oooooooo”. At the time I didn’t know who Freddie Mercury was, but I’ve wised up since then and now know that my dad was just making himself and my mom laugh. They like to laugh so much that we also have a Chris Farley pillow in our living room for inspiration.
Growing up, every night before going to bed my dad would kiss each of my siblings and me on the head, tell us he loves us and give us a hug. And before I believed that I was beautiful, I knew that my dad thought that I was beautiful because he made sure to tell me and my sister every single day.
Something funny that dad always says is “I’m the best.” He says this in a sarcastic, almost too casual tone and he says it after completing a task that benefits everyone. Like getting cool concert tickets or making a good meal. It’s funny because he spent my whole life saying this, almost trying to convince me of it when he actually just IS the best.
While traveling the world these past six months, I’ve found myself reflecting back on the seemingly simple, yet extraordinary days of my childhood. And in those moments I’ve thought, “how lucky am I to have been given something so special that I can’t help but think about it while I am surrounded by mountains.”.
I love being a Napoli, I love having a badass dad and I love being his daughter.
Everything that I am. Everything that I do. Is an extension of you, dad. Thank you for giving me such sacrificial love.
Happy birthday to my BFF, Best Father Forever!!
Love, your favorite 😉
