I've always thought of Valentine's Day as a celebration of love that is strictly for boyfriends/girlfriends or husbands/wives, but on this Valentine's Day (my first one as a girlfriend, actually), I realized that I owe a tribute to my very first valentine: my dad.
Daddy,
Ever since I was a little girl, you've made sure that Valentine's Day wasn't just for you and mom (or you and my wonderful stepmom, now). If you bought flowers, there was always one for me. If you bought a big Russell Stover box of chocolate, there was a mini one for me. If you bought her a pint of ice cream, I got one too. You've made sure that I know that I'm loved, even on this "stupid Hallmark holiday," as we always call it.
You were the first man to buy me flowers. You were the first man to show me that a relationship is not effortless, nor should it be. You were the first man to buy me a chocolate rose and use this cheesy line, "When this flower dies is when I'll stop loving you." You were the first man to take me on a date and the first one to come to mom's extra early in the morning, just to bring me Starbucks before you had to go to work. You were the first man who came to all of my soccer games, plays, basketball games, and band competitions. Whether I'm single or not, you have been and always will be my valentine.
I know that it's never been easy for you to drop me off at mom's after a visit with you and now it's even harder to watch me get on that plane and fly over 1,000 miles away. Trust me, it's hard for me too. That's why I wanted to write this to you, Dad, so that you know that I love you and that I appreciate everything that you do for me, even from states away. You've set the boyfriend expectations bar pretty high, but no one will ever surpass you. You're my dad, my valentine, my best friend, my movie partner, and my personal Superman. There's nothing that you wouldn't do for me and there aren't enough thank you's in the world for that.
I love you more than you'll ever know and I can't wait until I see you next!
XOXO,
Your daughter