Here’s to you, Dad.

For your nervous smile when you first held me;

For hours and hours of patience, while listening to my endless stories;

For making me laugh till my stomach hurt:

For giving me the freedom to fail;

For being an anchor, when life threw turbulent times at me;

For protecting me;

For making me believe in my future;

For assuring me that things get better;

For helping me stand, each time I fell;

For the times you made me believe in myself when everything seemed downhill;

For being the hero with the brightest smile, even through your roughest days;

For showing me how to respect everyone equally;

For shining with pride and celebrating my smallest accomplishments;

For understanding me, when I couldn’t say a single word…

Thank you –

For being a Dad, when you could have just been a Father.