I want to take a moment to write something for my dad since it's his birthday today. He’s a very private person and he doesn't really want to be celebrated so I debated with myself whether or not to post an announcement like this. However, I came to the conclusion that if anyone deserves appreciation and a public display of affection, it’s him. So here it goes! 

When I was five years old, you taught me how to read. I sat next to you at the kitchen table, asking about every single picture in the newspaper.
“What’s her name? Who is that? What does he do?” It must have been very tiring, but you were so patient.
“Read for yourself”, you said.
“I can’t!” I answered, “you have to help me!”. And you did. Slowly but surely you helped me make sense of the letters and their sounds. One day I didn’t need to ask you to read anymore.

I don’t understand where you get all that patience from. Honestly, what does it take to make you angry? Apparently even wrecking your car isn’t enough to make you lose your temper (sorry about that by the way)! It’s good to know that no matter how badly I mess up I can always call you, day or night doesn’t matter. You will correct me if I’m wrong, scold me a little if need be - but you are never, ever angry.

I can’t count all the times you have given me advice, or all the things you have taught me. I remember when we were kids and you used to tell us random facts while we were in the car. You would explain how a lightbulb works or how many days are in a year or where rain comes from… You managed to turn every car ride (and there were a lot of those) into a lesson. It seemed like whatever the question was, you would always have the answer. When I was being sassy and asked “How do you know that?”, your answer was always “I know everything”. Part of me still thinks you do.

You made me think learning was fun. You encouraged my curiosity and always challenged my mind… But that’s not all. You trained my conscience and my heart as well.

You have shown me the importance of being kind. Given me a good set of values - to always be there for others, help out when I can and apologize when I’m wrong. When I got in arguments as a kid, be it with my sister or a friend, you always told me to try and see things from the other person’s perspective. Easier said than done for a six year-old, but I remember you used a house metaphor. You explained that when people argue, it’s like they are standing by different windows looking in on the problem. I still think of that sometimes and it really does help me to calm down and be more reasonable about things.

You have taught me all this in the simplest, yet most profound way: by living that way yourself and setting a good example. See, you are so, so kind! Always there for other people, sometimes so much that you forget yourself.