Dear dad,

I remember when I was a little girl we would watch Princess Bride, and we would dance to the song at the credits. We would play Lion King and pretend the living room was a jungle, or I would ask you to play pizza man and you'd flip me onto the sofa countless times. You had bad shoulders and arthritis but you never said no.

As a single father you had to play dress up, Barbies, and tea party, but of course I grew up knowing everything there is to know about The Pittsburgh Steelers.

We are Italian, so being 'daddy's little girl' is completely normal.

You always told me any man who came into my life and did me wrong would "sleep with the fishes." When I came out to you as Bi-sexual you started saying "person" instead of just man. You always care.

I always hear stories from people who know you about how many times you have sat in hospitals and churches with people who need you. You have dropped anything and everything for anybody, no matter what. You raised me to see human beings as human beings and to love unconditionally.

I truly believe I am an activist today because of the way you and mom have fought to help others your whole life.

I miss the days of walking down the block to the Katerbean and getting m&m cookies or playing on Milton Street in the leaves every fall. I know I am not that little girl any longer, but I appreciate all the days I have spent being your daughter.

I know I don't come home as much as most kids do from college, but it isn't you. I am just having a really good time. I miss you, though. Trust me, I talk about you, mom, and Scruffy more than most people probably enjoy.

Lately, I know I have been kind of sick, and a lot has happened to me in the last year, but you have been by my side through it all (well as much as I let you because I am stubborn and I don't want to admit that I need help). I began to get help in this last month, and healing is hard but I am getting there.

I remember when I was having a rough patch back in high school you would tell me forza which means "strength" in Italian, or te voglio bene assai, which pretty much means "I love you very much". You would always squeeze me and tell me that. Now every time I am anxious or going through something I say both phrases over and over.

You have always taught me to be strong, and not to be tough, because the tough guys are all dead but the strong prevail. So, thank you dad.

Thank you, for being my best buddy through these 20 years of life.

Te voglio bene assai