daddy dearest

I love this picture because we are making the same face: ha ha!
(Never mind my wedding rain hair...)

Today is my dad's birthday! And, for the first time in a long time, he was home with the family to celebrate. As per family tradition he was served his favorite sugar cereal—Golden Grahams—in bed and, since I wasn't there for the festivities, I called him to have a birthday phone chat. I sure love him.

Sometimes we all wonder if what we're doing is the right thing, and with my dad traveling all the time for work I know that he's asked himself that question, too. But, even if none of us kids want to have a job that will take us away from our families as much as his does, that doesn't mean that we don't want to be like him: far from it. We are lucky to have a dad who is as talented and successful as he is.

My dad is one of the most amazing people that I know. He makes everyone around him smile. He can start a conversation with anyone about anything: his encyclopedic knowledge of sports, American history (even though he's Canadian!) and politics always puts me to shame. He has cultivated the virtue of gratitude into an art. He loves my mom more than anything in the world and makes sure that we all know it. And he is a vision in orange.

Dad with his mum and brothers.

My father has taught me to treat others with respect, look at life with humor, and to work hard at all that I do. And for that, Daddy Dear, I say thank you.