The Best Dad A Girl Could Ask For

A Story from Me, Melissa

Dad,

How do you possibly put into words what it means to have the best dad in the world?

For as long as I can remember, you were my safe place. My biggest cheerleader. My sounding board. My partner in crime. My best friend.

Some of my favourite memories aren't the big ones. They're the little moments that nobody else would think twice about. Sitting around the kitchen table talking about life, dreaming up business ideas in the hot tub and convincing ourselves we were one conversation away from becoming millionaires. We talked about everything. The future. Work. Family. Crazy inventions. Big plans. Small plans.

Nothing and everything all at once.

Long before I was an adult, you made me feel like my ideas mattered.

You taught me how to think, how to work hard, how to show up for people, and how to laugh when things didn't go according to plan.

Some of my favourite nights were our father-daughter nights. We'd grab snacks and pop, build ridiculous blanket forts in the basement, stay up way too late watching Dumb and Dumber, and burp without saying excuse me because apparently the rules didn't apply when it was just us. Those nights were pure magic.

You always made ordinary moments feel special.

One of your favourite stories was the night you drove me to a party after I worked until 11 o'clock. You told me to call whenever I was ready to come home.

The problem was that everyone else had started drinking at eight, and I felt the need to "catch up."

Five minutes after you got home, your phone rang.

"Hi, is this Melissa's dad? Yeah... she's ready to go home now."

You never let me live that one down.

Then there was the day I somehow managed to drive my car off a driveway and leave it balanced in a position that seemed to defy both logic and physics. While I stood there mortified waiting for a tow truck, you did what any loving father would do.

You took pictures.

Lots of pictures.

Pictures that I'm sure brought you endless joy every time you looked at them afterward.

I still maintain it was because I had the flu... You never believed me.

You were also the greatest host I've ever known. Walking into your house meant being offered a drink every ten minutes.

"Want a water?""Need a pop?""How about a beer?""Sparkling water?""You sure?"

Nobody ever left your house thirsty.

And nobody ever left without laughing.

I can't hear Styx, Fleetwood Mac, Barenaked Ladies, or Lady Gaga without thinking of you. We'd crank the music in the truck, sing at the top of our lungs, and see who could hold the note the longest. We were the next big star! 

You filled every room, every car ride, and every family gathering with laughter.

And then there were the lessons.

"If you're on time, you're late. Be ten minutes early."

"It's not cheap, it's inexpensive."

And, of course, thousands upon thousands of dad jokes.

So many dad jokes.

The worst part is I use them now.

Every day.

You'd be so proud.

You taught me my times tables at the kitchen table. You showed me how to use our first computer. You taught me how to talk to people, how to work hard, how to think outside the box, and how to find humour in almost anything.

But more than anything, Dad, you taught me what unconditional love looks like.

I never have to wonder if you are proud of me.

I never have to wonder if you love me.

I know.

Every single day.

I have been blessed with many things in my life, but nothing compares to being your daughter.

You and I share something special, and I know how lucky I am. Not everyone gets a dad who is also their friend. Not everyone gets the kind of relationship we have.

I do.

And I will spend the rest of my life being grateful for it.

I love you more than words could ever say.

Thank you for every conversation, every laugh, every lesson, every terrible joke, every ride home, every song sung at full volume, every crazy idea, every hug, and every memory.

You are, and always will be, the best dad a girl could ever ask for.

Love always,

Your Dod, Jo-Jo, Melis, Nan etc. etc. etc.