Dear Dad…

I thought a lot had changed at the five year mark, but of course, ten years later more life has happened than I could ever recount to you in writing.

You would be impressed, so blown away, by the strength Mom has displayed. She works hard and long hours in her healthcare job. And, like you did, she truly cares about the people she serves. She is good at what she does, and her patients and co-workers affirm her in that role. If you ever doubted her love or her need for you, I can assure you both were very real. She misses you in ways only she could express, but she is still full of life and personality with her endearing sense of humor intact. She would make you so proud.

J is all grown up now. He’s a lawyer {I know. We can’t believe it either.} And, he’s in the Air Force. {We also didn’t see that one coming.} He’s a JAG currently stationed in Boston. If you could see how much he has grown and changed these past ten years… we know our pride in him wouldn’t even touch yours. Even more so, if you could meet your daughter-in-law. She is a precious gift to our family, and you would be so happy to know her and see the joy she brings him.

You knew your son-in-laws were good guys, but seeing the way they have stepped up to care for our family in your absence would only make you love and respect them that much more. They are good men, and we are lucky to have them.

Of all the things you are missing, I most ache for you to be here experiencing your role as a grandfather. You’re one five times over now, and I think each of your grandchildren would delight you in their own special way. H has a daughter and a son. And, I have three daughters. While H’s children are mostly calm and reserved, my three are strong-willed and spirited. So, in that regard, your wishes have all come true. Most days I have no idea whether or not I’m doing this parenting thing well, but I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be their mom and am learning all kinds of lessons along the way. These little people bring us more joy than we could have ever imagined. And, Mom {Mimi, as she is called} is a fabulous grandmother.

So, we find ourselves here ten years later, missing you still and aching for you at every holiday and major life event. You can be certain that you never fully left us because so much of your legacy lives on, if not in us, in the features and personalities of your grandchildren. We talk to them about you often {and they ask tons of questions}, and we will make certain they know something of who you were and how much you would have enjoyed them.

You may have been a man of few words, but you were also a man of compassion and integrity who prioritized family and faith, and for that, we were influenced and are grateful. So, this weekend and every day, we thank God for your life and remember how much we loved you.

Then and still,
Your firstborn