An open letter to my Dad

Tom,

You were my best friend. I loved that you came to my work and just talked. “Your mom is driving me nuts; can I just sit here for a while.”

Come on back whenever you want.

You stopped and showed me the Cadillac of hitches you bought. I did not know at the time, you would never use it. We towed the jeep up to Soapstone one last time for you. I cracked the grill on the jeep, thought to myself, “when Tom sees this he is going to be mad.”

You allowed Mom to meet Tom again. She never stopped talking about “Tommy”.

Whenever I get discouraged about the world, I think of you. Would what I am doing now make you proud? If not I do not do it.

“As we look back over time
We find ourselves wondering…
Did we remember to thank you enough
For all you have done for us?
For all the times you were by our sides
To help and support us…
To celebrate our successes
To understand our problems
And accept our defeats?
Or for teaching us by your example,
The value of hard work, good judgment,
Courage and integrity?
We wonder if we ever thanked you
For the sacrifices you made.
To let us have the very best?
And for the simple things
Like laughter, smiles and times we shared?
If we have forgotten to show our
Gratitude enough for all the things you did,
We’re thanking you now.
And we are hoping you knew all along,
How much you meant to us.”

Tom, I promise, I will never forget. I live every day to make you proud.