Although I am fortunate and my father is in good health, I recognize this luxury. I, too, know that my father will not be around forever. With the recent passing of his uncle, and my great uncle, Jack, I recognize that life is too short to hold in our feelings.

I cannot wait any longer.

Dad,

I know you and I have a wonderful relationship, I also know that there is no harm in telling you how important you are to me. Being the youngest, I have always followed the examples of the prominent men in my life: my four brothers, my grandfather, and you, my dad. I do not remember childhood days with you, because I remember you worked overnights to support the family. I account our dark ceilings, that help me to fall asleep whenever I need rest, to this job. I do, however, remember “waiting up for you to come home every night” and falling asleep with mom in your bed. Instead of being irritated by the unexpected visitor, I remember you so delicately carried me to bed and put me to sleep before you yourself could rest for the evening.

You were my first workout partner. I remember watching exercise videos and trying to mimic the moves behind you as you got your sweat in for the day. In fact, you have always supported a healthy lifestyle for me. Throughout the years I have played sports, and as I finish out my career as a senior in college, you have always been there to support me on the sidelines, if not coach me in town-team and travel league sports. You were my ride until I could drive, and my mentor long after we took rides to and from games together. Your support for my lifestyle extended far beyond the field. You and I have always pushed each other to eat better. I remember when I was a junior in high school and you forced me to eat something, anything in the morning before I went to school. Now my favorite meal of the day, I loathed the idea of eating breakfast. I now know the importance of breakfast, so appropriately deemed the “most important meal of the day.” Further, when I came to you expressing my excitement about becoming a barre instructor you did not, for a moment, question my ability. You , as always, provided love and support for my dream coming true. Thank you for never giving up on me, and my lifestyle: you stuck by my side and encouraged me to be the healthiest and strongest version of myself.

Your support was widespread, both on the fields and in the classroom. You have never doubted my scholastic ability, and in fact used to sarcastically ask “is a 100 the best you can do?” You were not simply proud of my achievements, but you set the standard for my success. You never let me fail because you reminded me that I was better, that I was capable of better. I do not simply thank you for instilling in myself a standard of excellence, but for helping me achieve this along the way. I remember after long nights of work I would ask you to quiz me on vocabulary spellings. It may have been fifth grade, but I will forever spell thoroughbred correctly. I promise. Thank you for not only supporting me, but expecting the best of me. So long as I complete this semester, I will graduate Suma Cum Laude—I attribute this success to you. Thank you for expecting the best from me, and helping me be the best that I can be.

However, our relationship is not always work. We also have the same sense of humor and contagious laugh. You and I, more than any other family member, have the same taste in movies. You are the reason that I believe 500 Days of Summer is the most tragic rom-com of all time; you taught me how accurate it depicts the contrast between a male’s expectation and reality. You also sang along with me to Cinderella aka Cinderell-y, memorizing each line of Jack and Gus Gus: our favorite characters. Our pop culture bonding did not stop at cinema. I remember singing with you in the car on our rides to school, in which you had tolerated all of the words to a Hip Hop mix tape that was left in your CD player. Though our taste in music may not have been the same, you always find a way to make any situation better, like those early morning drives to school.

Although I pick on you for watching Investigation Discovery and the 2016 Super Bowl on repeat, and have nicknamed you Re-Hash Brown for your love to verbally beat situations to death, these small factors are irrelevant in comparison to all of the good that I see in you. Thank you for teaching me to never give up on myself specifically the night you let me comeback at Honeymoon Whist—and eventually beat you 22-20. Thank you for supporting my decisions in work, school, and relationships (so long as you approve of the guy). Thank you for following my lead at all family weddings and gracefully performing Zumba-like sequences by my side. Thank you for letting me workout with you at home when the ground is covered in snow and my motivation is lacking. Thank you for everything, dad.

I consider myself lucky to be your daughter. You have proved time and time again to be the backbone of our family, and seeing that we are all still local and in constant touch with one another—I argue that you’ve done your job. I love you, Dad.

Love,

Jen