Dad,
I know we've never had the best relationship, but today I remembered that letter you wrote to me when I was little. And I wanted to write one of my own, stating everything you've done for me.
First of all, I'm so appreciative of you making it to all my tournaments and many of my practices. I can't believe you'd leave work early in order to watch me throw a bowling ball at some pins for hours at a time. A lot of my teammates' parents rarely came to watch them bowl. But I could count on you being there every single time. I can't count how many times you've gotten up before sunrise to drive me to a bowling alley and that's something I'll appreciate forever.
All throughout my schooling, you were there to meet my teachers and help me with math. Oh, the number of countless nights we spent trying to figure out math problems. When it came to finding a college for me, you were willing to drive through the night to help me find my dream school. You taught me how to drive, even though many of those lessons required a stop on the side of the road due to me getting mad at you. (I still got my license, didn't I?)
I remember in your letter how you told me you'd love me no matter what I decided to do with my life. Over the last eighteen years, I've changed a lot. I always thought I'd want to go to college far away from Indiana. I ended up changing my mind at the last minute and going to Purdue. You were supportive of that decision. When I decided to start bowling, you made sure to make it to every match. When I got baptized, you came to my baptism and supported me, even though you're not a Christian. I know not all parents have such a supportive father, and I'm eternally grateful for that.
I know I'm not exactly the child you wanted. I'm an anxiety-filled, talkative, communications major, not the quiet, good-mannered, engineering major. But I'm so glad I have you as a father. No matter how frustrated we get with each other, I know that at the end of the day, we're there for each other too.
If there's one thing I want you to take from this, it's that I love you very much, just as you told me (almost) eighteen years ago. I'm so lucky to call you my Dad.
