Thanks Dad...

Me with my Mom and Dad

On Mother's Day, I wrote that my Mom was on Facebook, (and seemingly enjoying it very much).

For Father's Day, the first thing I will say about my Dad is that he's definitely Not on Facebook. And I don't expect him to be on it anytime soon... it's not that he's computer illiterate; quite the contrary, I'm actually very proud of how well he manages on the computer and internet. Facebook just isn't his thing... he's much more private than Mom.

So... instead of mentioning who he has, (or hasn't actually), reconnected with on Facebook, I thought I would send out a Thank You to my Dad:

Thanks Dad, for carrying me on your shoulders, making me feel like a giant. Even though I was afraid of the moon that seemed to be following us as we walked home late one night, I felt that as long as I was sitting high upon your shoulders, we would always be safe.

Thanks Dad, for letting us walk on your back when we were little. I know you said it was to make it feel better, but to us, it was always just a fun thing to do.

Thanks Dad, for taking me to Overwaitea on my 6th birthday and telling me to pick out whatever I wanted for dinner. And Thanks even more when you still said yes, when I told you it would be Kraft Dinner.

Thanks Dad, for teaching me how to ride a bike, build a fire or show me that nothing broken ever had to be thrown away... it could always be fixed with a little Duct Tape.

Thanks Dad, for spending quality TV time with me. I can't watch Hogan's Hero's or Barney Miller or an old Spaghetti Western without thinking of you.

Thanks Dad, for driving for hours, sometimes well into the night, just to get us to the best camping spots.

Thanks Dad, for spending hours working on the car with just a manual and your tools just so you could save money so we could go to gymnastics/dance/acting classes.

Thanks Dad, for coming home early one night when I was having a party and kicking all of my friends out of the house and threatening to go and get your biker friends after them... actually maybe at the time I didn't want to thank you.. that was really embarrassing... especially at school on Monday, but I understand now why you did it; Thank you.

Thanks Dad, for taking me driving after I got my learners... even if you would only do it on a rental car, and Che was only allowed to drive in the parking lot because she didn't have a permit, and even if it took me another 10 years after that to actually get my licence.

Thanks Dad, for teaching me that boys should never honk when they pick you up, and that a real gentleman should come to the door.

Thanks Dad, for the best saying ever... "Get with the Program!" I still use it all the time.

Thanks Dad, for signing a blank cheque for me to take with me as I signed up for my college courses. Even though your exact words were, “This goes against everything I was ever taught", you still trusted me and did it anyway.

Thanks Dad, for helping me move out for the first time and then helping me move back home less than a year later when I realized I couldn't afford the $300/month rent.

Thanks Dad, for asking if I was ok, after my first major break-up, but not pushing it when I said I was.

Thanks Dad, for not questioning or trying to stop me and realizing that I had to learn things on my own, even when I moved hundreds of miles away.

Thanks Dad, for always asking technical questions and always being willing to learn new information.

Thanks Dad, for being the best Grandpa ever to the two cutest little boys in the world!

Thanks Dad, for making me feel like I'm still your little girl.

Thanks Dad, for being you... I wouldn't trade you for the world... even when you are all grumpy.

Happy Father's Day.

I Love You.

My Dad when he was a little boy, with my Grandpa and Auntie Janet