As Father’s Day was approaching, I was trying to think of
the perfect gift to give the man who has it all. Sometimes it isn’t about what
you give but how you give it. So, I thought I would give you the gift that
keeps on giving. And that is the biggest and most heartfelt thank you!
You’ve spent your entire life serving others, but you never
let your own sacrifices get in the way of being there for us. I don’t know how
you did it, but you were at every field day, swim meet, every softball game, and every
track meet. I knew I could always look in the stands or along the fence and see
you there cheering me on, and if I didn’t spot you at first glance you would
whistle so I would know exactly where to divert my eyes. This fueled my competitive
spirit even more to push a little harder or run or swim a little faster. Sometimes
you were still in your uniform, having rushed over to see me compete, after
working a 24-hour shift at the fire station. While wearing more hats (or in
your case fire helmets) than most people could ever manage, you made sure we
always felt like we were your top priority. That kind of love and commitment
doesn’t go unnoticed and is what we have learned to pass down to our own
families. You have always said that if we have family, we don’t need anything
else. As I get older, I truly understand how true this is in life.
You taught us more than just how to show up for others. You
taught us how to be grounded in faith. The way you led us in prayer (or
sometimes made us say the rosary as a family), spoke about God, and lived a
life based on faith shaped us deeply. It wasn’t just what you said, but how you
led by example always giving to others, praying faithfully, and truly living a
faith over fear mentality in life. You showed us that when life gets hard, you
turn to prayer. I truly believe that this is why I had no fear going into surgery
to have my brain tumor removed. “I still had joy in the chaos, and I had a
peace that made no sense”. I learned that being faithful to God wasn’t just
something you did on Sundays, but something you live every day. I am so happy to
have found my way back to Sunday services.
Although I am now grown and have my own family, I still
reminisce about my upbringing and some of my favorite memories. I remember
waking up at the crack of dawn to go ride the bus with you. I don’t think I
even realized it was a second job for you because to me it was such a fun
experience. I knew that afterwards we would stop by the church to pray and then
head to Shipley’s Donuts! There was something special about those mornings. You
and mom were on a tight budget, and we didn’t eat out often, so I now know how
truly special that treat was for us. And sometimes, after long shifts at the
fire station, we would wake up to donuts, a smile, and love to spare. So today,
donuts with dad means so much more to me. It reminds me of the sacrifices you
made for us, and how you wanted us to know that we were a priority and that you
wanted to know what was going on in our lives and to make sure that you were a
part of it. A simple donuts with dad gave us that time to chat. Those small
acts made big memories!
And finally, I am still just as proud of you today, as I was
when you walked into my classroom all those years ago to teach us about fire
safety. My friends were in awe of your presence. My dad, the fire chief #3510, once
again volunteering his time for the sake of others. I can still see us both
beaming from ear to ear when I was chosen to demonstrate the stop, drop, and roll
or being the first to demonstrate how to shoot the fire hose.
Thank you for showing us what family truly means. You made
sure we always knew that when you have family, you have it all. That belief has
become one of the deepest truths I carry with me.
Thank you for your strength, your sacrifice, your faith, and
your love. You are the type of dad that others dream about, and I am endlessly
grateful that you are mine. Let me know when we need to meet for our next “donuts
with dad”.
I love you endlessly,
Shan
