Lately, I've been writing mostly about people. Maybe it's because of the holiday season and maybe it is because of homesickness. Whatever it is, I have been feeling not only extra thankful but extremely blessed to be surrounded by the people in my life: especially my parents. Here is an open letter to the man who has not only brought me up but given me guidance to pursue anything in life. Dad, here's to you.

To the Best Dad,

I don't even know where to begin in thanking you. You've given me all the qualities I will need to take on life head first and be successful. I aspire to become half the person that you are. Growing up, my entire life, watching you own and run a successful restaurant has not always been easy, but it has been life changing. I have first hand witnessed what it truly takes to "do what you love and love what you do." To selflessly give to others a little more than yourself and with dedication, aspiration, and determination comes triumph. I have a completely different, unique quality unlike many others my age due to the fact that I've grown up watching you do what you do. Virtue. First hand, I have watched you put 110% into everything you do for the sake of your family. I don't think many understand the difficulty that comes with owning your own business: especially a restaurant. I praise you with the world for all you do and will continue to do in the years to come.

It is the little things that you do/possess that make me realize how exciting and compelling my life has been these last 18 years. All of the memories we have shared and times that seem weird to others but gut wrenching hilarious to us. It would be difficult for me to put them all in this short blog but I will try my best to put the ones that really stick out to me the most.

Your love for the Raiders. It may just seem like a man having a love for the greatest sport in this country, like many others, but it means much more to me. Watching them every Sunday with coffee in hand, jersey on back, and legs on recliner. Maybe this love is something little, but it is something that will always keep us connected. As they score a touchdown we run around the living room, screaming, petting our dog Buster who is forever stuck with the colors silver and black. When you took me to my first game in Oakland, of course it poured rain. Of course it was only one of two games they've lost the entire season. But I hope you know in your heart this is a day I will never forget. "Win, lose or tie, Raiders 'til I die." Or as we like to say, mostly lose. Thank you for sharing your love for this team with me as it is something I will cherish forever.

Whether we are laughing at the weird laugh Mom does when she starts wheezing or the man purse you received on Christmas one year or your floor long, black fur coat or the app on my phone that switches our faces, it has been an overwhelming majority of smiles throughout this lifetime having you as my dad. There are bad times in everything, arguments, disagreements, fights, but I have come to the point where I see the motivation behind the "bad guy," as you would call it. You have never been the that to me nor will you ever me, you will always be the number one man figure in my life: making me so proud to say. All for the good and benefit of me, you have made sure I remain on the narrow yet correct path of life.

I so much more than appreciate you handing me the world plus more. I look forward to what life has to offer us in the future. All I am and aspire to become, I owe to you. I will always be your little girl. Never ashamed nor embarrassed to hold your hand in public or give you a long bear hug that I have been missing a little extra lately or to express that you are my dad. I love you more than I could ever show, express, or prove.

Always and forever your little girl,

Johnnie