Dear Dad,

I bet when you saw this headline you were preparing yourself to read a mushy love letter to one of my ex boyfriends or something, well, you thought wrong. You are, indeed, my first love, and the only love of mine that has not at some point broken my heart. So that counts for at least something, right? I just wanted to put you in the spotlight for the week because there are some things that it's about time that I said.

Thank you. Thank you for teaching me about music, school, and mostly life.

Thank you for all of the times where you have made me laugh until i cried, whether you meant to or not.

I love you, and I know here and there I'll throw a thank you your way for everything that you do for me, but not nearly as often as it's deserved. I just want to say thank you for everything: little things, big things, things that you did that I may not have noticed, things that you did when you didn't have to, that you didn't tell me about. Thank you for, maybe not throwing your dreams away, but pushing them to the side to give me the life you think I deserve.

You have given me so much more than I deserve. When I was born, you left behind ideas you had in your head of how your life would go to fulfill your new found dream of being a father and raising a daughter. Everything that you've done to give me a privileged life does not go unnoticed. And that's what I have, because of you and mom.. A privileged life. Looking back, I took advantage of you both, not on purpose and not to be a burden, but I didn't even realize I was doing it until I grew up and looked back.

If I could go back to my 16-17 year old self I would give her a good slap in the face..for all the times I needed the high end back to school clothes and expensive school notebooks that I would just toss away at the end of the year. For being what is comparable to a "bridezilla" at my sweet sixteen with ridiculous demands and expectations of which you exceeded without hesitation.

For making you feel like it was your responsibly to dump hundreds of dollars into a prom that lasted one night and while it was enjoyable, was not even close the best time of my life.

For thinking that in some way you owe me anything. For having you buy me a car at 17 instead of working my a** off and holding off until I could afford it.

You owe me nothing. Granted I am your child, but now I am 21 and you really don't owe me much. You pretty much have worked off your end of whatever you think you needed to give me in this life, and from here on out its my turn. I hope you know that all that I dream of in this life besides to be happy and healthy, is to be able to give you and mom the world.

I know that with the career path I've chosen I will never be rich, so the probability of me being able to spoil the two of you when i get older is slim to none, but I will definitely try my best. But you have taught me that in life all you need is your health, your happiness, and your family; without that, money is nothing.

You have did for me more than I will ever be able to do for you, and that creates a hole in my heart that makes me sad. We're not the richest of families, and we don't have tons of money.. But you never let me feel that. Of course now I realize how things are and I try to take from you as least as possible because now with two jobs I work hard for what I have, which makes me realize even more how much effort you have put into this life for your children. And that is an admirable quality that brings tears to my eyes, everything you do in this life, you do for your children and that is something that everyone around you can also attest to.

I admire you dad, I hope you are proud of me and what i am accomplishing in life. I hope that when you look at me everything that you have given up and worked for in this life is all worthwhile. I hope that when I have a family I am one-fourths of the parent you and mom are. In this life, whether you had a lot or a little, I have gotten everything I have wanted and needed and more. I just wanted you to know that. Thank you for everything you do.