Dear Dad,
I miss you and I wish you were still here, but I know that can't happen. It's been 11 months since you left on November 4th. It's sad to think that you missed my 16th birthday, it was only 11 days away and I wished you could have stayed for a couple more weeks just to see it, or maybe a couple more years to see me graduate. I know that's selfish of me so I am sorry. It's not like you lived a short life, you actually lived a long one, all the way to 77. People always thought you were my grandpa but I never cared. I did find it funny though because we would always joke about what a young stud you are. I also think your age helped me accept your death because even when I was a kid, I knew you couldn't live forever, I knew you were older than other kid's parents and that was weird in many people's eyes. I remember kids telling me that my dad was old, older than some of their grandparents so I would tell them yeah and how great it was that you were old because that meant you were kind and wise, it meant you could spend more time with me. I never told them that I thought you wouldn't be able to walk me down the aisle when I married, that I didn't think you would be able to see my kids, and how sad that made me feel. I still remember when I was around 8 or 9 it was your birthday, we were celebrating but then it turned to night and you are saying your goodbyes to all the people that were leaving. All of a sudden you had a stroke, I didn't understand what was happening I just remembered you leaving to go to the hospital, I think you left in an ambulance but I'm not that sure, it was all just a blur. I remember that night, how confused I was, it was also then I realized you weren't invincible, that you were just like every other human being, you could die at any time. Luckily enough you survived, but later on when I was in junior high you had a hole in your esophagus and that caused many problems. The doctor said you were lucky that mom brought you in on time. Luckily enough you survived, but later on when I was in high school you had skin cancer. It was on your leg and on top of your head and it was slowly spreading, but good thing you had surgery and it was slowly healing. However you were not lucky enough to survive your heart stopping three times because after that it stopped for the last time. Still, I am proud to call you dad, you gave me such a happy childhood and taught me so many games like cribbage and casino. You showed me some of my very favorite t.v. shows and favorite music. I would never trade you in for a younger or healthier dad, you are perfect just the way you were and I am proud to call you my dad. You are the strongest, funniest, and kindest person I have ever known, not only were you a great person but you were also a survivor and a fighter. I just wish sometimes that the whole world knew you, that everyone could meet you because I believe you could have made everyone's day just a bit better. That's why I try to tell people about you, tell them the man you were and the life you lived because I believe you deserve that, your story being told. To let everyone know how proud I am to be your daughter. Though I also hope I make you proud, that while I am walking through my day your telling all the angels and God that I am your little baby girl, telling them my story and how you raised me, telling them how proud of me you are that I am doing good in school just like how mom and you always ask me to. Mom is always telling me that I make you proud, but sometimes I just wish I could hear it from you.
Love,
Your little princess