My dad IS the best dad!

It doesn't take a lot of time to see that my dad is better than most dads.  He's all the wonderful things that great dads are, and then some.  As a kid I didn't realize how good I had it.  I just sort of assumed all kids had a great dad.  Didn't all kids have a dad whose arms they jumped into the second he walked through the door?  Didn't all kids have a dad who would spend hours helping them put together a science fair project?  Didn't all kids have a dad who took joy in watching a bunch of kids play 6 games of softball in 100 degree heat after they'd been working all week?

I remember one of the first times I realized how lucky I was. We were on our way to New Jersey for a softball tournament. My dad was going with me, and I was nervous to fly. I remember sitting on the ground at the airport, my back against the wall, N Sync playing on my walkman. I heard a harsh voice above the music. It was my coach, yelling at his daughter. I didn't hear what he said, but I caught the hurt and angry look on her face when he turned his back.

"Gum, Melly?"

I looked up and saw my dad had returned with 3 different kinds of gum. If you know my dad, this does not surprise you at all. He wanted to be sure to have enough, and to have the kind that everyone would like. At that moment I realized I was so glad he was my dad, and my coach wasn't. In fact, I couldn't think of a single dad on that team that I'd rather have than my own.

I could tell a hundred stories like this one about my dad. Times that he has filled my car up with gas for no reason, made a special trip to the grocery store just so I would have the food I liked when I came to visit, or made me breakfast and coffee just because he wanted to. He is truly the most generous and giving man that I know.

I can't wait for Sam to get to know his grandpa, and to hear stories of Farnsworth.


Happy 60th birthday Dad!


Love,


Your Melly