To the Man Who Wants to Marry My Daughter:
You two started dating in November of her sophomore year at college. We met, briefly, that month and to be honest, you seemed like a normal guy, nothing special. A month or so went by, then she came home for winter break. I sat in my work room every night, trying to get stuff done but all I could hear was her crying. I assumed it was something that you did or said, so I started to not like you. No one, and I mean no one, can make my daughter cry and have me be on board with it.
Five more months went by and she came home again, this time for summer break. I was surprised when she told me that you were coming over because I assumed you two would break up. I assumed your immaturity would catch up to her brilliant little mind and she would get rid of you. She sat up every night of the break crying because she missed you. I started realizing to myself that it was not because of something that you did, but because she liked you so much that she couldn’t even stand being away from you for even a minute. That’s when I knew she loved you.
Two years went by when the two of you graduated from college together and both got jobs. You saw less of each other but she told me that it only made the two of you stronger. One day in the middle of August, I sat on the porch, smoking a cigar with my buddy, when she pulled up. She had tears in her eyes, barely able to make words that made sense. She cried for days. Finally, two days later she told me and my wife that she was infertile. She would never have a kid on her own and she was beyond devastated. When she told you, my wife and I stayed at home, expecting you to leave her so you could have a family. You didn’t. You stayed by her side at all times and told her you would never leave her because love is more than just a baby. That when I knew you were a man.
One month ago, sitting on my recliner, watching a football game, was when you texted me. You asked if we could meet up for lunch. You told me all about your adventures together. I knew where it was leading. You pulled out a ring, you asked for my permission to marry my daughter and you had a tear in your eye as you did so. I said yes, of course. That’s when I knew you were the right man for my daughter.
If I can, I would like to give you some advice. She loves dogs. Make sure you let her pick out the perfect dog, or else she’ll hold a grudge, trust me. When she was five, she loved when I would kiss her forehead before she went to bed. She will be impressed if you do the same. She loves Christmas. Make sure, even if you’re not in the mood, you listen to Christmas music and put up decorations. My last piece of advice is to never go to bed upset. There is nothing worth fighting into a second day. Go to bed every night with love in your heart.
When she was a little kid, as all dad’s do, I would read her stories before bed. Her favorites were the fairytales. She would tell me that she always wanted the perfect man to help her get past the troubles in life and treat her well. With you, I know she lives a fairytale.
