Dear Bub,

I rewrote this first sentence seven different times. I have never thought about sitting down to write an article dedicated to the love I have for you, and how much happiness you have brought to my life. This month is always a difficult one for me. Six years ago this week, I lost my dad. As sad as I get every day, I want to remind myself that I may have lost one dad, but I have another one always waiting for me with open arms. I don’t say it enough, but thank you, I love you.

As I have gotten older; I have been in relationships, ended relationships and yearned for them. I’ve seen people give up so easily on love, get tangled in the downs, and throw away relationships because it didn’t come easy enough. But not you. You showed me that if you know someone is worth fighting for, you go for it. And that’s what you did with mom, and I am thankful for your fight every day.

When my dad died my sophomore year of college, I didn’t really know what I was going to do with myself. I didn’t think I could feel a pain like that before, and I didn’t think I could ever recover. All I thought about was who would walk me down the aisle, who would come to father/daughter weekend. Who would I call for my sushi dates when I came back to visit home? I realized, those were all you already. Bub, you were the first voice I heard telling me that he was gone, and when I thought I couldn’t carry on, the last voice to tell me that I was still loved by you. You took me to my first father/daughter dance in kindergarten; when I pinched my finger in the gate and you spent half the night at CVS, remember that? You already knew my favorite sushi order at our favorite restaurant near our house. You were the one that moved me into college up eleven flights of stairs when the elevator was broken. You may not share the same blood as me, but you won my heart 20 years ago already.

When mom and I were living by ourselves, in our one bedroom apartment we called home, you came to our rescue. I know you loved mom for many years before, but she had to go through the bad to get the best. Thank you for sticking with us. It is a beautiful gift that life puts people together when you need them the most, just like we needed you.You showed us what a family could be. I thought I had won it all with the three of us at the age of five, until you brought me my best friend, my new baby sister.

You were the one that stopped on the way to school to get me an extra pacifier when mine wasn’t the right color. You held my hand on the first day of school, flipped the burgers on Dad's BBQ Fridays, and believed in me throughout college. You were the one to call me to tell me I was spending too much money, and the same one that told me to get that extra piece of pizza abroad because I am perfect to you. You hugged me when I was crying about the boy that broke my heart, and supported me through the next ass hole too. You are who I want my husband to be like, with your trust, your patience, and your wit. Anyone can be a father, but you chose to be my dad.

I love you forever, thank you for being mine.

The original love bug