Recently my father-in-law passed away. Even though he was 96 when he passed I was still taken by surprise. It hurt to say goodbye to a man who I had come to easily call “Dad”. I know my husband and his siblings have a different way of saying goodbye but here is mine.
Dear Dad,
I would love to tell you this in person, but as it stands I will have to hope you are listening. This is my feeble attempt to say “Thank you.”
First and foremost thank you for wanting and having John. Without him, I would not be who I am today. A wife, mother and grandmother.
Thank you for teaching him that his wife is the most important person in the world. Your love with Mom allowed him the freedom to show what it is like to be a true husband and a true man.
Thank you for challenging me and allowing me to challenge you. We had some pretty awesome debates. And yes I still think women firefighters are just as good as men firefighters.
Thank you for teaching the very basics that everyone should know about what to do about when your child gets sick. “The more you put in=the more that comes out”
Thank you for being there when Joshua had an appendicitis, you kept me calm while telling me what exactly to say to the ER doctor, who wouldn’t believe that his appendix had probably ruptured as he never presented with “typical symptoms”
Thank you for saving my mother’s life.
Thank you for being there when Joshua was born, even though I tried to escape and thought everyone was trying to “take my baby”
Thank you for being happy that at the age of 16 months that Jack could throw a baseball with incredible accuracy.
Thank you for not being mad when Jack threw a baseball and hit you in the head because he was not supposed to be able throw a baseball with accuracy and speed at the age of 16 months.
Thank you for coming and taking Shadow to the doctor that final time. And I’m sorry Brandy always tried to bite you in the butt every time she saw you after that.
Thank you for telling me of what happened in WWII.
Thank you for telling me, when John, the boys and I moved to Texas, it was okay.
Thank you for laughing with me.
Thank you for telling me every time we said goodbye that you loved me.