A Tribute to My Dad
A blog post for the man who has relentlessly proclaimed he “only wants socks for Christmas.”
Dear Dad,
Watching you from a distance, my how things have changed.
You’ve grown older, so have I. I have two children of my own.
You’ve moved a few times, and I no longer live at home.
You remarried, brought on more kids to call your own.
It’s hard now that our talks are less face to face and mostly on the phone.
I found a soldier to marry who has a servant’s heart.
It kills you that I’m far away, that this job moved us apart.
I have three rings around my finger, one you made and my wedding bands.
And even though I’m twenty-three, I still like to hold your hand.
Sometimes I wish I were a kid again so I could relive my childhood.
I bet you wish the same thing, too, and if given the chance to start all over, I know that you would.
Time seems to have escaped us like it always, always does.
But there’s still a little girl in me who still calls you just because.
Sometimes I want to hear your voice or get advice from you.
No matter what you’re doing, you answer and say the words I need you to.
If I need you, you say, “pretty girl, you know I need you, too.”
And when times are happy, you hug me tight and say, ” I always believed in you.”
Dad, there’s not much that your strong hands cannot do.
I always believed you were toughest out of all the dads I knew.
I always believed I loved you more and to this day I still do.
You always pushed me toward my dreams, said I had plans I needed to pursue.
Even when I felt I failed, you never told me you agreed.
I always used to follow you around, and you would proudly lead.
Remember when I caught that fish and you took my picture by the pond?
You hung that picture on your wall as a tribute to our special bond.
One day I found a box you kept of all the things I ever made for you.
You took it with you every time you would have to move.
Remember when I would hold your leg at school and beg you not to go?
Sometimes I still feel that way even though now its me who’s leaving home.
Although reliving childhood would be a lot of fun.
I know you think being a grandpa is like a prize you’ve won.
Man, we sure got lucky that God paired me up with you.
And Grandpa up in heaven, I bet he feels that way, too.
I’ve loved you my entire life from day one, it’s true.
And anytime I think about home I always think of you.
Merry Christmas, Dad.
Love, your little girl