Dear Dad,
Remember when you used to hold me in the palm of your hand?
Remember when I had just starting talking? Remember how I would sit on your lap endlessly blabbing and giving you whiplash any time you dared look away?
Remember when you were a deacon, and I was an acolyte, and we would go to church early to prepare communion? And Remember how I applied that knowledge and started setting up communion on the ironing board at home and made anyone who came to the house take communion…even the Jewish neighbors?!
Remember the countless hours you spent watching me play soccer or dance at recitals….or just in the living room with Tracey?
Remember taking me to my school’s father/daughter dances…and buying me a new pink dress?
Remember when we went to see Jurassic Park in the theater and I spent two hours shaking and covering my ears with my head buried in your knee? Or that other time when I fell out of my theater chair watching Star Wars? Sorry about that.
Do you remember trying to console me when I lost my blankie at that hotel along the coast…or the entire following week when I refused to sleep in my room?
Do you remember holding my hand as they gave me giant shots before surgery? I think you may have passed out so it’s okay if you don’t remember… 😉
Do you remember camping, searching for crawdads, and getting huge cookies up on Mount Lemon? Or all the times I made Ben switch me sides so I wouldn’t have to be close to the ledge?
And, speaking of camping, remember the day you taught me to fish in Idaho and I caught a bigger fish than yours? That was awesome.
Remember picking mistletoe in Oregon and then driving all around Tucson selling it? And remember selling all my soccer candy bars to your work buddies?
Remember when you used to let Ben and I go with you on deliveries in your huge white truck? I loved that.
Remember when Santa got us new bikes, but couldn’t get them down the chimney so he left them on the roof? That was sneaky.
Remember that time we found a rattle snake and then dissected it? And it’s heart beat for like 45 minutes after we pulled it out of the body? Seriously, taking that thing apart was one of the coolest, most gross moments of my young life.
Remember helping me study for my states and capitols exam? You spent hours quizzing me.
Remember all the times you soothed my fear during lightning storms? And then later, all the times we enjoyed watching them come in?
Remember teaching me to drive your Ford F350 diesel truck….and all the tears that were shed that day? And remember how I still messed up the breaks on Celie my first time taking her out?
Remember all the talks we had about politics and religion, especially after September 11tb? You are so wise.
Remember the first time I left home for college? That was hard.
Remember tigger? And the time he stole away to Europe to come see me?
Remember the time, when I was an intern, and you came to visit….and you video taped me coming out of work and there was a crowd gathered thinking I was someone famous? Thus, creating one of my most embarrassing moments? Thanks for being proud of me. 🙂
Remember when I left 11 months ago to go around the world sharing the love of Jesus? The love that you originally taught me about…
Well, I remember. And I am grateful for the many blessings I have received just because you are a man of integrity, passion, faith and love.
Happy Father’s Day! I love you, Dad!
Melanie
