Let me begin with a little history. My mother had my sister at eighteen, and me at twenty; both by the same man. This man loved her, and she sure loved him, but they could never seem to get their lives to work together. The man that I call dad today had noticed my mom and knew that he wanted to be hers for good. After some time, they got together, and before he knew it he had fallen in love with not only my mom but her two little girls as well.

This man came into my life before I even knew the concept of parents, and I say it’s for the best. He potty trained me, taught me to walk, how to swim, and even how to ride my bike. My dad has been there for me since before I could form memories.

I am more like this man than anyone in my family. We are the only people that are ever on time for anything, the only ones to love math the way that we do, and we are the only dark-skinned, dark-haired people in our immediate family. There was actually an incident at a family gathering on my mom’s side where one of her elderly family members commented: “I swear if you weren’t standing beside of your daddy I wouldn’t know who you were here with.” Amazing isn’t it? It is said that after you’re around someone for so long that you start to look and act like them, well I am proof.

The best part about having this amazing man in my life is that I am a big time “daddy’s girl” and couldn’t be more proud of it. I tell my dad everything that goes on in my life, and he supports me through all of my decisions, good or bad. He constantly brags to all of his coworkers about how amazing “his daughter” is. The feeling between us is something so special that no one could ever change nor come between.

My dad always mentioned how he wanted to have a girl of his own, but he and my mother never could. Little did he know he had my sister and me to care for all along. Whether or not we are blood, I will always be his baby girl, and he will always be the best dad in the world. I am so blessed to have such an amazing dad, mentor, supporter, and number one fan in my life, and couldn’t be more thankful for the love that we share.