Dear Dad,

Now that I'm 18, I finally feel like I am ready to open up to you. I'm sorry it has taken so many years for me to feel accepted enough for me to do so, but I know you would be happy to listen to me, no matter how old I am. So much has happened in the past 18 years and I can't thank you enough for being there through it all. From holding me at the hospital to seeing me off to my first day of college, you really have been there through it all and I am just now realizing that. You have seen me grow and make mistakes just as my mother has. I always thought you weren't looking when you really were. Every single father-daughter dance, every dance recital, every school play and concert. You've always been my biggest fan in the audience. One memory I have of us is when I was younger and we used to have "camp-outs" in the basement and we went to the bakery on Route 9 before and I got a really big brownie and that night was so special to me even though it was a usual routine. I remember playing countless games of cards with you on the stairs and just a few years ago you told me you let me win all the time. I always thought I was just really good but, secretly I thank you for letting me win. I felt like I was good at something and that was rare for me.

Another memory I have is when you used to get me off the bus from morning kindergarten and you would make me a peanut butter and fluff sandwich and get me ready for gymnastics. We would go to gymnastics every Monday and when the half year was over for me, you got me a necklace and I regret not keeping it. Those days were really special to me. A more recent thing is when I wasn't quite old enough to have my drivers license so you drove me to the mall almost every weekend so I could meet my friends and you didn't mind at all. You let me have my life but also incorporated yourself into it without me even noticing. You always gave me the most heartfelt cards and little gifts throughout my years and I always under appreciated them. The text at the beginning of each month asking if I said "it" and I would always say yes even if I had forgotten.

What really tore me apart was the divorce. I'm not blaming you for anything and I don't want you to think that I am. I thought since you and mom had been together for so long it kinda just wouldn't happen but boy was I wrong. The divorce happened at pretty much the worst time since I was just starting treatment and I was in my senior year of high school. I felt like my whole world was crumbling underneath me and I couldn't do anything to glue it back together. I don't really think you know how that feels, but it feels really crappy to watch your family fall apart. But great things came out of the divorce. You found a woman you really love and you found a new love for real estate. You say this so often to me dad but it's time I say it to you, I am so proud of you for everything you have overcome in the past year.

I love you and I will always be your little girl