This past weekend, I visited home. Coincidentally, this time will also be marked in history as the weekend Hurricane Matthew wreaked havoc in North Carolina, causing record-breaking flooding. My dad, who owns his own towing business, tends to get an exponential amount of calls during any type of rain storm. Determined to spend time with him even though he was so busy, I asked to ride with him on a call. This one call exhibited everything I loved about my dad, and just how much my dad loves me.

In the middle of a torrential downpour, the wind making the trees dance, we drove up to the car he had to tow. "I usually sit and wait a minute for the rain to die down, but it's been raining like this for a while so I don't think that's gonna happen," he said lightheartedly. Before he got out, he handed me a towel and asked me to wrap it around his truck's seat so he wouldn’t get it wet when he got back in. As he exited, I unbuckled my seatbelt maneuvering the towel under the headrest, covering the seat, reminding me vaguely of all those years he and my mom tucked me into bed when I was younger. When dad hauled himself back into the truck, like a chameleon his bright red shirt had turned dark burgundy from the rain, water was dripping from his head and arms, and I could hear his feet sloshing in the puddles that had formed in his shoes. For most people, this would be miserable- all they would want is a hot shower, a dry set of clothes, a sandwich, and a bowl of soup. But what did my daddy do? He turned on the heat and offered to take me to see some of the prominent landmarks on Fort Bragg I had never seen before. Even though I’m sure he was ready to go home at that point, we rode around for a little while and I’m sure it’s just because he was happy to be spending time with me. My dad has always loved educating me and teaching me what he knows- from the way pistons in an engine work to the history behind the monuments on our town's military base. After we took the scenic route back to his small business, we pulled into the parking lot where we had to drop the car off. The conversation of grad school came up because, as a Psychology major, it's almost a guarantee I'll need a graduate school program of some sort. “I do what I have to do,” he says when we talk about how much the price will go up. I never needed my dad to tell me he loved me, he does a pretty good job of showing it. Having a dad who is willing to do anything on this earth to provide for his family is the most humbling thing I have ever experienced.

My dad works 24-hour periods during the week, and some weekends, just so I don’t ever have to see a tuition check. His phone blares in the middle of the night and, without complaint, he dutifully slips on his shoes and hops in the tow truck. He gets soaking wet and exhausted so I can sleep peacefully in my dorm room in Chapel Hill. Seeing him in action cements the fact that pretty much since birth, I have been a daddy’s girl. He works tirelessly for the same kid who whined when she didn’t get the toy she wanted for Christmas, who ate all the candy he brought home for himself, never said thank you as much as she should have, and doesn’t call him from school as often as she should.

So here’s to all of the dads working hard to put their babies through school. You are appreciated, you are loved, and you are missed while we are away. We promise to put as much work into our educations as you put into footing the bill.