Dear Daddy,

I still remember the day that you left us. I was 14-years-old, DJ (David Jr.) was 12, and Amanda had just turned three. I wish your pain was a pulled muscle like you thought it was. I wish that I had more knowledge on heart attacks and blood clots. I wish I could have saved your life.

Not a day goes by where I do not think of you and miss you. I remember you telling me that it was your dream that I do better than what you had done in your life, and, so, I am making sure to live a life that you would have wanted for me. This includes working, getting a degree, and doing the absolute best that I can for as long as I can.

I often wonder if I am making you proud or if I have ever let you down. Being let down comes with being a parent, I think, so, I am sure that I have done it throughout these past nine years.

I am 23-years-old now, Daddy. I married my husband, Jason in 2013, and we had our first baby, Elizabeth, a few days later. Elizabeth Judy Rose Massey (Judy after mom's mom) is four-years-old now, but she will be five on July 19th.

We had our second baby, Jason Alexander Massey on September 13th, 2016 and he is one now. You would have loved them to pieces and I can just imagine how much they would love you, too.

I am nearly finished with my Bachelor's degree, Daddy. I will be graduating next Spring (2019). You will have been gone for ten years by then, Daddy. I am sure that you know already, but I have joined three, yes, THREE, honor societies since starting my journey with SNHU. I have joined The National Society of Leadership & Success, The National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and The International English Honor Society.

Vampire related books are still my favorite. I remember you buying me each Twilight book every time I finished the previous book in the series. Thank you for that, truly. Gosh, I remember when you went to the mall and came out with a Twilight pillow and blanket set with Edwards face on them for me.

Remember all of your 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' books? Mom ended up giving me all of them and they sit happily on my bookshelf. I have yet to read them, but I will, someday. I wish I could have read them while you were still alive so that we had yet another thing to bond over. I remember watching the TV series with you, but if that is something that I learned from reading 'The Vampire Diaries' is that the books can be 98% different when being compared to the movie(s) or show(s) created to follow the series.

Oh, yeah! I still have the guitar you gave to me before passing away. Sadly, I still do not know how to play, but that will change soon, I hope.

I am sorry that I am all over the place with writing this to you, Daddy, but I just did not know where to start and where to stop. I hope seeing this makes you smile and warms your heart to know that I am doing alright and, hopefully, making your dream for me come true.

I love and miss you always, Daddy.

Love,

Your little girl