Father's Day.

Dad’s are pretty cool. They teach you how to ride a bike, how to pick yourself up when you fall, how to avoid boys until you’re married, and give you and all your friends “the talk” often and at unsolicited times.  Wait, your dad doesn’t do that?  Just mine?  Noted. 

Like most parents my dad often goes unnoticed and untold that’s he’s appreciated.  It's by no means true that he is but as a parents I have to imagine the amount of things you do to support your child is constant and often unknown.  I think the thing about having two parents is we look to each for different things.  Since I don’t live close to home anymore we’re forced to stay in touch virtually, therefore, I call my dad for certain things and my mom for others (daily, sometimes hourly I might add #adultingishard).  My dad gets the how do I pay my car insurance, what is property tax, and did I hit my deductible for health insurance questions where my mom gets the how to do I cook rice, somebody hurt my feelings at work today, and my girlfriend and I are fighting kinds of calls.  As trivial as those subjects may sound, to me, they are all equally important and I'm fortunate to have two life experts just a phone call away to help me navigate any and all situations.

Here comes the sappy part... You know when people ask you who your role model is?  Well, I’m lucky enough to have two.  My mom AND dad.  This post however happens to spotlight my short shorts loving, biking expert, sugar fanatic father (don’t worry mom, you’re up next).  As you can tell from the pictures on this post, my dad is full of life.  He is the first person you hear you when you walk in a room, he will literally take the shirt off his back if you are in need (except in these photos where he took the shirt off my brothers back because he was dancing so hard he sweat through his own), and he’s the first person I want to talk to when life throws me a curveball.

Anytime I’m not sure how to approach a difficult work situation he provides me with sound advice.  When I’m feeling bad for myself he drops me back into reality with some tough love (which although I may not outwardly appreciate in the moment, I am forever grateful for his realistic approach to life).  He taught me how to be persuasive in life and how to not get taken advantage of at a car dealership (which, very important, especially for the ladies out there).  And he’s also the guy that when I had back surgery and needed a new car spent two days on the phone with me and many dealerships to help me purchase a car when he was thousands of miles away.  Anytime, any day, that’s my dad.

I know I’m rambling on, but these things need to be said.  If I had to sum it up, I’d just say he’s the reason I can jump so freely into life’s big and small decisions because I know he'll always have my back.  So dad, I’m not sure there are words to communicate how valuable you are to me and to our family.  So for now, thank you, I love you, and maybe a big bag of semi sweet chocolate chips will work to show our gratitude.  Happy Father’s Day today, and every day.  I love you!