I wish you could've met my dad.
I find myself saying this phrase over and over throughout my life. As I grow older, meet new people and experience new things, I wish my dad were here to experience them with me. I wonder what it would be like to take him to a college football game, or show him around my campus. I wish that he could be there to give me advice about the future and see me graduate one day. I will always wonder what my experiences would've been like if I could spend them with him. Since my father's death, there has been a gaping hole in my life that I know I will never truly be able to fill. There are so many things that I wish he was here to see and experience with me.
To my college friends:
I wish you could've met my dad because he would've made you laugh. I wish he was here to playfully torment us and give us a hard time for being young and dumb. I wish he was here to help me move in and out of my dorm, take us to dinner when he came to visit, and see why I have chosen you as my friends. I know he would've liked you, because you are such a support system to me. You are truly the kind of friends that a parent can only hope their child will find. I know you would've liked him because he was a loving and caring father who would've been there for you even if you weren't his child.
To my professors,
I wish you could've met my dad because you would see why I am so motivated to succeed. You would get a glimpse into the genius man who inspires me to do my best and work hard. My father's own perfectionism is what drives me to also achieve perfection. Although I will never be as smart as he was, I will never stop trying to be. If you met him, it would become obvious that the reason I work so hard is because all I ever want to do is make him proud.
To my future husband,
I wish you could've met my dad because I know he would've loved you. I wish you had the opportunity to ask for his blessing for my hand in marriage. I wish you could see him walk me down the aisle into your loving arms. I wish you could laugh and chat while drinking beer with him. I wish you could see the man that was my protector, my guide, and my inspiration for 18 years. I wish you could see where I get my sarcasm, sense of humor, and passion from. Even though he may have tried to act intimidating or even scare off at first, I know he would've eventually loved you. I know that he would approve of you as long as you made me happy because that's all he truly wanted for me.
To my future kids,
I wish you could've known my dad because he would have loved you unconditionally. He would've been the best grandfather on this planet. He would've taken you out for ice cream even when I said no. He would've hoisted you on his shoulders, making you feel like you scrape the sky with your fingertips. He would've made you laugh until your stomach hurt. He would've explained how everything works and why things are the way they are. He would've been there for every birthday, performance, soccer game, and award ceremony. I'm sorry that you are missing a grandfather, but you need to know that even though he isn't here physically, he is always watching over you. You have a guardian angel that will love and protect you forever. Your grandfather was the kind of parent I can only dream of being.
So to everyone who has not met my father, I am sorry that you missed out on such a remarkable man. While it seems so unfair that there is so much that he is not here to experience, I will always consider myself lucky that I had 18 beautiful years with him. My life will never be the same without him and I will always wish that he were here. Yet, I will forever cherish the memories that I do have and continue to tell people about the wonderful man that he was.
