Dad
You’ve given us
many gifts over the years. By far the greatest has been your never ending love.
Recently, I was
going through boxes in the basement and. I came across a collection of letters
I’ve kept through the years. They were from you.
The earlier ones
were written on Seaboard stationary and were addressed to Ralph S. Mason, my sleep
away camp. Then the letters skipped a couple of years and were addressed to
Syracuse University. I usually received those on a Friday, where you’d tell me
to enjoy happy hour with Shari and throw in a ten or twenty for good measure.
You didn’t have to worry about us at school. We always looked out for one
another. In fact, I remember our friendship blossoming at Fagan’s happy hour,
so maybe that was because of you after all.
Everything in my
childhood and my adult life that you’ve been involved with has brought
happiness and security. As a father, I hope you realize I only have happy
memories of all that we’ve done. Few people are that lucky and for that I am
truly blessed.
You were my
first and have remained my greatest hero. Through everything life has gifted
and taken from you, your commitment to making this world a better place has
never faltered.
In short, I am
thankful for every car ride we took as a family, for teaching me how to ride a
bike, for every worm you placed on a hook and every line you patiently untangled,
for taking me to get my ears pierced, for coaching every soccer game I ever
played in, for standing on the sidelines when I ran track, for bear hugs good
night, and for all the ice skates you laced, for late Sunday night projects you
helped me pull off, for all of the dog shows we did together, for our Saturday
mornings at work and afternoons in the city, and the too many things that
literally consumed my entire childhood.
You’ve been a
wonderful father in law to Nick and loving grandfather to Michael and Marielle,
Mostly, I am thankful for your optimism and love of life that has made me the
person that I am. For everything you’ve done and still continue to do, I love
you.
Happy Birthday
Dad and Grandpa,
Love,
Donna, Nick,
Michael and Marielle
