My childhood memory snapshots are full of playing games with my dad, waiting for him to come home from work, going out for birthday breakfast with him, getting donuts on Saturday mornings, and taking road trips with my dad driving.
One year, my dad taught us science. We did experiments that had to do with sight and sound. I distinctly remember putting my ear to the ground outside while he bounced a basketball to teach us about how sound travels.
When I was sixteen, I decided to get baptized and make a public proclamation of my faith in Jesus. I asked my dad if he would baptize me along with our Pastor.
In my senior year of high school, I got my driver’s license. My dad took me to my drive tests (three times over) and showed me how to change a burnt out brake light bulb.
During my first semester of college, I bought a car from a friend. My dad went with me to test drive the car. He showed me what body damage he would look for if he was buying from someone he didn’t know and trust. He gave me a heads up about the sales tax I’d have to pay with my registration and he got me set up on insurance.
When it was time to get my first oil change, I called me dad. “What kind of oil do I get?” When I had a flat tire, my dad changed it for the spare and helped me find a tire shop. The first time my car died, he let me borrow his car to get to work. When the engine died while a friend was borrowing the car (I was living overseas at the time), my dad took it to the shop and arranged for the engine to be rebuilt. When my check engine light turned on a few months ago, I called my dad. When I was stuck on the side of the road with my sister, I called my dad. He came and waited with me for the random tow truck driver to diagnose and fix my car (THAT was a night of adventure!).
When I was asked out for the first time, my dad was the first person I told (I didn’t even tell my best friend until after the date!).
When I was looking for a place to move, I asked my dad about the different neighborhoods around town, wanting to make sure I didn’t end up in a sketchy area. When I found a place, I asked my dad for some of the large boxes he gets delivered for work. He helped me move some of the boxes to the new house. I borrowed an allen wrench to assemble my bed. He checked to make sure the screws were nice and tight.
When my computer has trouble, I call my dad. When I had trouble figuring out my budget, I asked my dad for help. I was working on a project that involved building a PVC pipe frame, and I asked my dad for help figuring out the measurements. When I’m lost at the hardware store, sometimes I’ll call my dad. There have been countless times where I’ve called or texted him to ask him to pray for a situation at work.
Daddy, I love you. I need your guidance and advice just as much as I grow up and become an adult as I did when I was five. Thanks for always being a phone call away.