Hi Dad

Hi Dad,
I came to visit today.  I know, I know, you aren't really there.  But it helps me to be in the last place I saw you.  I just wanted to tell you I love you.  I know we didn't always have the perfect father daughter relationship due to my stubbornness (that I got from you by the way) and both of our frailties and weaknesses.  But I wanted to say thank you for the little ways you showed me you loved me.
Here are some of the memories precious to me:

• The way you polished my school shoes and left them by the front door for me everyday when you worked the graveyard shift, and you would set your alarm to wake up so I could come home for lunch. Grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup still my favorite comfort food!

Thank you for showing me its important to take the time to do the little things for those you love.

• You used to let me comb and put curlers in your jet black wavy hair when I was little and paint your fingernails.  You went to work with red fingernails at the Washoe County Sheriff's Dept. one day because we didn't have polish remover.  Sorry :)  I am sure you got harassed by the fellow officers.

Thank you for allowing me to be me.

• I followed you around the yard with my tool belt hammering things with you, you were always building, creating, or fixing something.  I learned so much from your demeanor in dealing with me. 

Thank you teaching me to think I can do anything.

• I learned my love of cars and motorcycles from you.  Remember the VW van camper you bought?  We never went camping in it because you sold it. I always assumed it was because you thought it gave me bad memories.  You had just bought it and you were so excited and we were outside checking it out and my cat got run over by a hit and run on the street.  Remember how you shuffled me into the house so I wouldn't see and you grabbed my cat and took her to the vet?  Remember how you can home and pulled me on your lap and told me the cat didn't make it and you held me and let me cry? 

Thank you for teaching me compassion.

• Remember how you used to holler at me to stay away from your full dressed Harley because I was so curious and it was SO big it could crush me if it fell over?

Thank you for making me feel safe and protected.

Ok, ok I have to stop with the memories I am crying my eyes out as usual. 

Just wanted to say I love you Dad and I will see you soon.  Tell my brother I love him, give my grandma Velma a big hug, say Hi and I send my love to all my aunts and uncles and cousins and grandparents that have all gone before me.  Oh and don't forget to tell Jesus and my other Dad (God) I am sooooo glad I met them and can't wait to finish my assignment here on earth so I can sit at their feet in the throne room and worship Them. 

Love you Dad, see you soon.