No one thinks it will happen to them. No one plans to lose a parent young. That could never happen to our family, right? We had time. We had time for me to outgrow my angst filled teenage years where you and mom just embarrassed me. We had time for you to walk me down the aisle one day. We had time for you to become a grandpa and watch your grandbabies grow. We had time. But the thing was, we didn't.

There's so many big moments I wish you could've been here for. I know you would've done anything to have been able to stay. I wish you could've been here when I got my first apartment. I wish you could've helped me buy my first car on my own. It's not that I don't miss you everyday, but it's these moments that hit a little harder than the rest. I know I said I'd never get married, but I met someone who completely changed my mind. I wish you could know him. Maybe you do I guess, but it's not in the way I'd envisioned. You have three beautiful, crazy granddaughters who will never know what an amazing grandpa you would've made. I tell them all about their angel watching over them though.

I hope I've made you proud, dad. And I'm sorry we didn't have more time. I'm sorry I took for granted the thought that we had so much longer together. We were supposed to. And I'm sorry but some days I'm still angry, dad. I'm still angry you're gone. I'm still angry that the strongest man I've ever known was taken from me. It wasn't fair. You always taught me to pick myself back up, to brush myself off, and to keep going. You taught me that everything would be okay. And I know you'd want me to be okay without you, but the truth is some days I'm not.

If I've learned anything from losing you, it's how precious and fragile life really is. We all think we have more time than we do. I'm grateful to know I won't ever take that time for granted again. I love you dad. Its hard to get through this crazy life without you, but I'll tell you all about it when I see you again one day.

Love,

Your baby girl