Erin’s Letter To Her Dad

In case you missed it on KVKI this morning, here is the letter I wrote to my Dad this year.

June 8, 2012

Dearest Dad,

I can not believe it’s been 25 years since we lost you!!  When I see friends spend time with their fathers, I am quietly jealous.  So many precious moments have been lost.  But I do take solace in the fact that this is part of God’s Master Plan.  Your happy face and humor still bring a huge smile to my face…..oh the stories you could tell.  And I know you could spin a good tail!

This has been a difficult year for the family.  But as you can imagine, we are surviving and, in fact thriving.

My boys are now 17 & 18.  JW has graduated from High School and is now off to college where he will get to continue playing soccer, which is his passion.  He is as gregarious and spontaneous as his Grandpa Mac. Your namesake, John Justin, is headed for the 11th grade.  He is such a strong confident young man.  You would be so proud of him.  Everyone around him speaks so highly of him!.

I am thrilled to tell you that the year has been spectacular for me.  My circle of close friends continues to grow and we have had some wonderful adventures.  I could not help but think of you when some of us went zip lining in Arkansas this year.  It reminded me of the times camping when you would lift me up to the rope swing and fling me out into the river.  What great memories.

We lost our dear caregiver Myrtle this year, but I take joy in thinking you are getting to enjoy her rice and gravy for eternity!! You lucky dog.

The love of your life, my dear Mom is struggling with aging.  Physically, she is fine…but her short term memory is fading.  I can only imagine how gentle and patient you would be with her.  She loved you and still loves you all these years later.  We laugh and smile when we talk about you.  Thankfully, we will get to spend some time at the beach this year and I will make sure she gets to put her toes in the sand and watch the waves crash onto the beach.  And I will watch for the dolphins passing by, because secretly I know one of them will be you trying to enjoy just a small part of our time together.

I love you and thank you for the years of being my Dad.

Your Loving Daughter,

Erin