6/20: Happy Father's Day

Father's Day is always a hard holiday for me. For those of you who don't know, my dad died 10 years ago. And while 10 years may seem like a very long time, its not. I miss my dad so much sometimes. I missed him at my high school and college graduations. I missed him when I broke the 1,000 meter swimming record in college. I missed him walking me down the aisle at my wedding. I missed him when I bought my first house. And I am sure I will miss him a thousand times more throughout my life.

I used to spend Father's Day wallowing in self-pitty angry that my dad was taken from me. But now I choose to remember how awesome he was.

• His crazy laugh and how he loved the three stooges.
• His passion for art and his black and white sketches.
• His glasses and the imprints they would leave on his nose after a day of wear.
• I loved how his hair would stick up in crazy directions in the morning.
• His old blue pick-up truck and how happy he was when he traded it in for the explorer.
• I remember how much he loved food and would try almost anything.
• He loved taking trips to new places.
• He was incredibly patient, Mom and I would tease him and call him Job.
• How he could never find a parking spot that he liked, so we would end up taking a guided tour of the parking lot.
• How much he loved teaching and touching the hearts of his students.
• He made up silly nicknames for EVERYONE.
• Any boy that called our house was always Gerritt Kenyon, no matter if the boy actually said his name or not.
• He loved the shore, especially the boardwalk and Manco's Pizza
• He always dressed for work in a shirt and tie. Even if he was just going to ruin his clothes with paint, chalk or clay.
• His tie collection is enormous! I kept a few, they sit on a special shelf in my closet.

Miss you Dad!

If heaven had mail delivery I would be sending you card and new tie. But instead you will have to settle for the impact you had on my life and how much I still love you.