HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

This is our day to celebrate our fathers. I want to pay a special tribute to my dad, my hero.

I am an only daughter, and the oldest in a family with three brothers, so this led me to have a very unique and special relationship with my dad. I was the first one to break him in for all those dad challenges. First kid driving, first kid to date, first one to leave home, you know the drill. Being an only daughter made this more difficult for him, but sometimes it had it's privileges also. I was special!

When I was a little girl, my dad would let me dance on his feet. He would twirl me around and move me to the music. Everywhere he stepped, I would be right in sync. I would laugh and never want him to stop and eventually he would say, I tire him out and it's time for him to dance on my feet! I know many other fathers dance with their daughters this way, and we were no different. He took me to all my Father Daughter Girl Scout events and was my best coach during my softball days. Many Fridays, he would work his tail off, setting up a campsite for our family for the weekend, just to tear it all down again on Sunday. We would have the best time though! I am very thankful that my Dad was around to make memories like this with me.

He's a tinkerer and can't be still. He loves to get into projects and he was always fixing things around the house. To this day, when he comes to visit, Harley will leave little things around undone, just so it will give my Dad something to do. I can appreciate his pride in a job completed and his comfort in knowing that his daughter still needs his help with things.

As long as I can remember, while we were growing up, he always had a motorcycle. He had a Honda 650 he would ride to work everyday that he could, except when the winters set in. Iowa didn't allow year round riding. He and my mom enjoyed riding with friends and when us kids were old enough, they would take off for weekend trips. He didn't bat an eye (not that I saw anyway) when some of my boyfriends would pick me up for dates on motorcycles. It's been several years now since he sold his bike, but Mom said he was very proud that day I called and said, "Dad! I'm riding my own now!" And of course, that didn't come without some words of wisdom and lots of, "be careful out there!"

My dad's getting older and slower these days, but he's still that strong minded, well meaning man he always was. I want thank him for the sacrifices he endured in order to raise his family, and the love and support he always showed us. A lot of my personality, I get honestly from him and I wouldn't have it any other way. Thanks Dad! Happy Fathers Day! I love you.