Dear Dad,

I think this is probably my hardest article to write because I don't know how to say thank you a thousand times over and know it still won't be enough. I don't think I've ever written something heartfelt really to you alone, mostly because I know you'll cry (like you are right now), but also because I honestly don't know what I'd say. But I figured at least I'll give it a shot.

Remember the time we were in NYC? I was so little and so excited for the American Girl Store. We went in, I got my doll's hair done, we bought some outfits, and it was a great day. Little did I know the surprise you had up your sleeve. When I got home I just remember you giving me this huge swingset for my dolls. I never asked for it or even saw it for that matter, but it was just the perfect gift. No one even knew you bought it, you just did because you knew it would make me smile. That's probably one of my favorite memories ever.

Another favorite memory happened just last Christmas. I was opening presents when I came across a 12 pack of socks. They were outrageous with insane prints and I just looked at mom because I was so confused. She said, in the most patronizing voice something like, "Cas, don't you love them? Dad picked them out all by himself." We later laughed at each print, one more horrible than the next: zebra, skull and cross bones, monkeys... but you were just so darn proud that I loved them just because you loved them. I still never wear the monkey socks because I don't ever want them to get lost. I love those socks.

My last memory is more like my favorite thing we share. Whether it be during Easter, during dinner, when we're out in public, or whenever something stupid happens we will just look at each other and burst out laughing. It will seriously be the dumbest thing ever and we will just laugh for literally ten minutes straight and then when our sides are sore and everything has calmed down, I just glance your way and we're hysterical again. Like when you and mom turned the pears into peeps for Easter, or when we watched that boy pick his nose at Disney, or when we were in the ocean this summer? Mom looks at us like we're crazy, the whole world looks at us like we're crazy, and we are, just for one minute, insanely crazy. But there's so much happiness in those moments that I wouldn't want it any other way.

Why am I sharing memories with you that you already know? Well, I guess it's because in the moment, we laugh and joke like we always do because that's our relationship, but I never get to tell you how much these little memories mean to me. The fact that you care enough to think of things for me instead of being like any other dad and just handing over your credit card (although you do do that plenty of times, too) means the world to me, even if I don't express it at the time. The fact that you don't care what anyone else thinks and that you just want to make me happy is something I can never repay you for or thank you for enough. All I can do in the moment is just smile and nod and hope that you understand what I mean.

I want you to know what a good man I think you are. Mom always says you have to be a saint to deal with her and, although that's true, I don't think you understand how serious we are. You are insanely generous, polite, hysterical, and crazy all at the same time. You hold the doors and offer your seat to anyone around you. You'd rather freeze than have someone go without a jacket. You put a dollar in the Salvation Army bucket every single time we walk by. You care about your family, your friends, your church, your community, your world, and everything in between. You are good beyond all measures and I hope that my kids and my kids' kids are just like you.

So dad I raise a glass (full of half ice tea half lemonade) to you. Happy 70th (KIDDING) birthday to the best father in the world. I'm sorry I'm a stubborn, spoiled, temperamental (I get that from you ya know) chaotic brat sometimes, but I want you to know even when I act unappreciative, I am appreciative. Thank you for always putting up with that. Thank you, also, for always supporting me, for always loving me, for putting a roof over my head and an exuberant amount of food on my plate, for thinking things are funny that mommy will never understand, for picking me up when I'm too tired to drive, for teaching me how to put gas in my car, for letting me change the station at anytime, for shutting my lights out when I pass out at night, for trying to teach me that difference between a four cylinder and a six cylinder car is, for the piggy back rides down the steps when I was little, for the Dunkin and late night fast food runs, for all the fishies that I never should have had, and for the endless supply of grapes every week. Most importantly, thank you for being this amazing person in my life that I can rely and look up to. I want you to know that I appreciate every single thing you do whether you know it or not. I love you to the moon Alice.

Love,

Your warm spot finding, camel emoji obsessed, shopaholic, worm of a daughter.

Ps: Thanks for always coughing when I need you to.