My dad recently came to visit me at college, and my friends marveled that he would fly all the way from Atlanta to Detroit just to spend the evening with me. I didn't think anything of it, really, because I know that's the kind of person he is. In the middle of my first semester of college, he texted me out of the blue that he missed me and wanted to come visit at some point during the winter, and he actually did it. Many people would make those plans in the abstract and never commit to them, but once he decided he was coming to see me, that's what he was going to do.

A few weeks ago, I saw a sweet article on Odyssey written by a girl to her father, thanking him for making her the person she is today. I sent it to my dad with no comment other than that I loved him, and he promptly left me on read. I asked him why a few days later, and he said it was because he didn't know what to say and he felt like the article didn't really describe our relationship. The writer spoke glowingly of her father and how kind he'd been to her for her entire life, and my dad didn't really relate to that.

I'm writing this now to put in print that even if he didn't relate to it, I did. I know we've had our battles over the years and there have been times that I didn't really like him that much, but he's always been my dad and I've always loved him. I'm sure the girl who wrote that article has fought with her dad, too. It defeats the purpose of writing a nice essay about your father if you spend most of the time talking about the fights you've had!

My dad has been hard on me, and I wouldn't have it any other way. It always pushed me to work harder and be better. I wouldn't be where I am today without it. I'm not sure I always appreciated how much my father did for me when I still lived at home, outside the obvious paying for everything and giving me an incredible life! Now that I'm in college and he isn't always around, I've realized just how much I miss interacting with him on a daily basis. He may not know it (he will now that I've written this), but he has set a standard for the men in my life that I doubt few, if any, will be able to reach.

So, to my father, thank you. I love you, and I can't wait to see you soon!