To Dad

Well, today is Father's Day and my dad is in Miami, hopefully resting for once, taking it all in, sitting by the pool, celebrating the day with my little brothers and reading this open letter, remembering he will always be my number one. I know you aren't supposed to wait until days like Father's Day, Valentine's Day, and the like to show the ones you love, just how much you really do love them. Most of the time, we forget to call back because we're too busy or have too much on our minds, we easily take for granted how much love there really is and always has been. 

My dad,

my hero. 

The first (and only) man who has ever loved me unconditionally. Who has protected our family, even when we became a blended one. Thank you for loving all of us - all of us - the way you always have. And thanks for making sure I was always, 'ok'.

But, for a girl like me, who came out of the womb sarcastic and monotone, I like to think I still am the most sensitive and sentimental. If you really know me very well, you know that I don't wait until special occasions or holiday's to express any bit of emotion; I am an emotional roller coaster. So, my dad knows how much I love him. He also knows how-to not to push my buttons because I will snap (that's the feistiness inside me, that I know reminds him of my mom). By the way, thanks for always dealing with that. With us girls and our first-dates, as teenagers learning to drive, in college thinking we knew it all. Thanks for challenging me, dad. I wouldn't have the business savvy or any street smarts about me, if you didn't always tell me to believe in my mind and teach me how to keep it "sharp".  And, thanks for never missing a dance recital. It meant the world to me to see you in the audience every single time. And, for telling me I was beautiful even when I tweezed off all my eyebrows. Oh! And for the one time in High School that I smoked pot and mom wanted to kill me. I really appreciate you not letting her do that.

And, mostly for never never telling us to turn down the music!

Dad, I hope you are proud of your first born. I won't mention on here how you cried your eyes out when I gave you this song for Father's Day in the 5th grade. Oops, I just did.

I love you, dad. Happy Father's Day, from all of us. 

Since music is probably your favorite thing in the world. Since my first memories of my life, are of you playing the guitar. Since it's apart of who we are as a family. I choose to celebrate Father's Day with you through all the music and all the sing-a-longs. Now, take these speakers poolside. Or have a jam session with Uncle Coco.