For My Dad

I don’t live near my dad, so I can’t just pop over on Father’s Day and make him lunch or bake him some cookies, instead I thought I’d give him the gift of words.

My dad was not around a lot when I was a kid. He worked a lot and then he drank a lot. I don’t remember much from those years but I’m told he was not a very nice drunk.

Fast forward to today. I still don’t see my dad enough but this time it is due to distance. My dad has not had a drop to drink in over 25 years. He does not talk about it much, but I know it’s been at least that long.

Can you imagine giving up something you love FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE??? I don’t mean to sound trite, but I can’t even give up chocolate for a month. My dad gave up alcohol, for the rest of his life, because it was the right thing to do. He’s like that. He does things because they are the right thing to do.

I don’t know much about my dad’s life before I was born. I guess that is how kids are sometimes. We find it hard to imagine the world was spinning before we were a part of it. I don’t know what kind of man my dad was before I was around. I don’t know what drove him to drinking in the first place or what kind of childhood he had; he’s never told me. He is not the kind of man who blames others for his mistakes. He takes responsibility for them.

I don’t know if I ever told my dad I’m proud of him. Really, we just live our lives and go on about our days and do what needs to be done. But what better day to say…

I’m proud of you Dad. I don’t know much about what kind of young man you were, but I know what kind of man you are now, and I’m proud of you.