Dear Dad,

I've probably written you a few happy birthday cards or father's day cards, but this one is going to be a little different. You've been around for 19 years now and since Father's day is here I feel like it is fitting to let you know one thing I have to say. Thank you.

Thank you for always being there for me. No matter what. Whether it was a gymnastics meet or a ballet recital, I could count on finding you in the audience. Even if I couldn't see past the bright spotlight, I knew you were there cheering me on. That's the thing. You made yourself the most reliable person in my life. When other people would flake out on me, you were just one call (or one hug away) from listening to me about whatever is on my mind.

Thank you for being my rock. Whenever life just seemed to be too overwhelming you were ready to be the voice in the storm to calm me down and talk some reason into me. You were able to see past the craziness, grab my hand, and help me through it. When everything around me was turbulent, you were the person I knew I could hold onto till the end.

Thank you for embarassing me. I know I'm going to regret saying this, but thank you. I remember waiting to perform on the vault at one of my gymnastics meets years ago. I was extremely nervous but I knew that you were standing in the audience, but I didn't know where. Well that didn't last long! You made sure to let me know you were there by yelling out my nickname (the one my brother came up with that I THOUGHT would stay within our family) for the whole world to hear. I turned and gave you the evil eye, but you were just grinning because you knew I was embarassed. Looking back I know that you embarassing me somehow meant that you cared. You cared about making me smile. You cared about making your presence known to all of my friends. You cared about making sure I knew that you would literally do ANYTHING to remind me that you would always be my dad.

Thank you for understanding me. Not a whole lot of people understand all the layers of my personality, but you have taken a long time (a whole 19 years) to learn about all of them. Most of the time I don't even have to say anything before you know what I'm going to say. And when I don't want to say anything, you sit down, look me in the eye, and let me know that I don't have to. The other day I was frustrated and didn't feel like anyone understood me until you said exactly what I was thinking and ended with saying, "I think that I understand you more than you think I do." That couldn't be more true. I am so grateful for that.

Thank you for always being there for me. Happy Father's day. I love you.