happy day to my dad.

Happy Father's Day, Dad! I love you!!!

I adore my dad. I was always a daddy's girl. My dad is the biggest bike fan I've ever met. He rides his bike everywhere and has ever since I was little. I'd sit on the back in one of those child's seats (totally not FDA standards, I don't know how I'm still alive...) and we'd ride to the library and pick out a sackful of books. Dr. Seuss, Babushka, fairy tales. Every night before bed he'd read to me, and when we ran out of books, back to the library on the bike we'd go. 

When I was a teenager, he was a huge proponent of family bike rides. I was not a fan. We'd ride for miles and miles all over town, with him leading the way. Once the sirens went off for a tornado warning and we were eating lunch at a Burger King probably 15 miles from our house. Thanks, Dad.

My dad still rides his bike everywhere, even though the days of me on the back, or even me on my own bike right behind him are long gone. He leaves for work extra early so he has time to bike down there. He stops by my house on his way home to say hello and get a drink.

I remember in highschool when I participated in a Catholic retreat and my dad sent me a letter about how I was his little princess who was turning into a queen. It's one of my most prized possessions.

I remember before my wedding when my girls stepped out of the bridal room and let my dad in. I'd seen him earlier in the day when he helped us decorate, but I finally had my dress on, my makeup done, and my hair fixed. He cried. I cried. We hugged. 

And you know what we talked about when we walked down the aisle? Ties. As in his purple tie. (PS. isn't his outfit great? He picked it out, but insisted I come along and approve. He also wore cowboy boots, which is so my dad.) And then he asked, "Why are you running?" "Dad. I'm nervous!"

My dad gave me the nickname "Rissi Rae." It's so special and it's one of my favorite sounds. 

My dad has been my rock so many times in my life. Through high school when I lost my grandparents, then a friend. Through countless math classes because he's a math major and I am not. In college when I didn't tell my parents I was taking a mini vaca and wrecked my car. He drove two hours in a blizzard to come save me. Through my mom's accident when he could read between the lines and I couldn't. He still takes care of me even though I'm suppose to be "grown up." He mows my lawn, he plants my garden, he fixes my broken.

My dad's the greatest. I'm biased. But so incredibly blessed. 

Blessed with both my parents who continue to support and care for me (and let me leech their health insurance). Blessed with parents who are still happily married. Blessed with parents who didn't put up with my crap. Blessed with parents who were strict when they needed to be. Blessed with parents who insisted on family and family vacations. Blessed with parents who were examples in so many different areas, even though it took me some time to learn that.

Mom and DAD, I love you both.