Daddy,
I have never felt a greater pain in my life than the day I lost you. A few years later and I don’t think I’ve ever stopped replaying the moment I found out you were gone. At 15 I thought the worst worry in my life was how to get that awful, impulsive, black hair dye out of my hair that even you told me was a bad idea. I would take having black hair for the rest of my life if it meant I got to have you back.
You were my best friend, biggest supporter and hero. I will never know a man smarter, dorkier, or funnier than you. I want to thank you for that. For giving me your sense of humor and your dorky tendencies, but I could definitely be using some more of those smarts right about now. Seriously (sorry about my Astronomy grade this semester btw).
Thank you for always being there for me the second I needed anything. Guaranteed at the snap of my bratty little fingers you would drop whatever you were doing to get me what I needed. For God’s sake I was 15 years old and you would still cut my meat at dinner. I was the biggest Daddy’s girl and your princess and everyone knew it. Yes, I may seem spoiled to some, but it is because of you that I am as determined and strong-willed as I am. I stop at nothing to get what I think I deserve because of you.
Thank you for teaching me so much. You’ve taught me some of the most useful and useless information that I wouldn’t trade for anything. All of my useless facts that I tell people are all thanks to you. You were always there to help me understand math and science better than any teacher could. You taught me to love the sky and stars and all the wonder that the Universe brings.
Thank you for loving me unconditionally. You loved me and everything I did with the same passion as I did. I did no wrong in your eyes. But, you also gave me some tough love and I know I always complained when you would make me study or try to push me into playing sports, but it’s only because you wanted the best for me. You only ever wanted me to be the best and all I want to do in life is make you proud in whatever I do.
There is not a day that goes by that I don’t miss you. Through my first heartbreaks all I wanted was your manly wisdom and protection. Through the rest of high school and beginning of college, I yearned for the way I could say an equation and you automatically knew how to solve it and then could teach me how to too. You are the first man I ever knew and ever loved and I will consider myself to be the luckiest girl if I ever find someone half as great of a man as you were. As I’m getting older, my heart hurts knowing that, if I ever get it right and do find that person, you won’t be there to walk me down the aisle and give me away. My husband and children won’t get to know the most amazing man to ever be in my life.
Though this is hard, I know you are always with me. You are all around me and in my heart. The greatest compliment I ever receive is that I remind people of you. You may not be able to physically be a part of my future family, but you can bet that I will tell everyone the stories we shared and the stories you told me and about how awesome you really were.
I will forever be beyond grateful for all that you’ve given me in my life and just know I’m getting along down here just fine because of the strength you taught me and continue to give me every day. I am beyond proud and honored to be your only daughter. I see you in every sunset, sunrise and star I see. I hope your view is all you ever dreamed of. Thank you. I love you.
Love Always,
Your little girl
