Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day, Dad! 
Thank you for taking me up to Kaye's service station when you needed gas.  Going for a ride with you was so great.  I usually got a Three Musketeer out of the trip, as well. 
Thank you for taking me to the hardware store and letting me dink around the garage while you were refinishing furniture.  I will never understand how you could drink coffee in the summer.  The trips to True Value led to my first job.  And watching you do jobs around the house has made me a pretty decent handyman around my own house. 
Thank you for the Sunday drives to get Dairy Queen and drive around town.  I just remember being sandwiched between you and Mom in the front seat and eating the cone as fast as I could so I wouldn't drip.
Thank you for having a bowl of cereal with me instead of making me go to bed.  A bowl of cereal before bed was a pretty common ritual for you and me.  Thinking about that now makes me smile.
Thank you for buying me a Homecoming dress my sophomore year.  We went to the Plaid Place at Armstrongs. 
Thank you for coming around before my wedding.  I know that the two of you were not keen on it, but it turned out to be a great day and Danny and I have had a good run of it.  I am so glad that you and Mom decided to pony up for the food and hall and booze.  Otherwise our reception would have sucked!
Thank you for not letting me come back to Iowa when Danny went to Saudi Arabia.  I wasn't too thrilled with your decree at that time, but came to realize that you were so very right. 
Thank you for bringing my mom to me after my first baby was born.  Having you both there was such a gift. 
Thank you for insisting that I come back to Iowa when Danny went to Okinawa.  I had a little girl to keep safe and being with you and Mom was a much better idea than staying in Southern California. 
Thank you for the endless hours that you picked up cups and blocks and beads off the floor.  I remember Ashlyn finding it pretty funny.  I think the two of you spent many evenings playing that game. 
Thank you for hauling furniture out to California for me.  Ashlyn was such a big help as you put the table together.  The table is still in our dining room.  Ashlyn is still a big help!
Thank you for making room in your house again, not only for Ashlyn and me, but for Hayley as well. 
Thank you for getting up with Ashlyn when she would have night terrors.  I couldn't juggle both Hayley and Ashlyn and you were there, even when you had to get up at five in the morning.

You have never stopped being a dad to me.  No matter where I am in the world or what crazy assed thing I am doing, you are there shaking your head at me. 
I consider myself very blessed to have been raised by you and Mom.  You both did your very best with us and I think you should be pleased.  We all did alright. 
Happy Father's Day, Papa.  I love you.
Anne