Happy 60th Birthday to my Dad!

Today is my dad's 60^th birthday. I wanted to write something nice and poetic about what a wonderful dad he's been, what an inspiration he's been, how caring and supportive, how kind and generous, how much love he gave me and my brothers. But as I sat in front of my computer trying to find the words to describe what an amazing man my dad has been through the years, I couldn't.

It would take a lifetime to describe how wonderfully amazing my dad is. Growing up with this man there was never a shortage of laughs. My dad is the funniest man I know; even his dumb “dad” jokes... no actually, especially his dumb dad jokes. Oh and the stories he told. I think Jose and I know all his stories by heart... every version of them. My favorite is probably the one where he was kidnapped and jumped out of a speeding car going 90mph, from the backseat, in a two-door car, after saving his friend in the front seat. I'm pretty sure the first time he told it the car was parked.

When I was 12, our family went to the zoo. That day in October when the zoo used to be free for the whole family; we went every year. I was walking on the sidewalk ledge, actually it wasn't the sidewalk, it was the border to some planted shrubbery. I fell. Split my knee open. I swore I could see the bone. Needed stitches. I remember my dad picked me up in his arms and ran all the way to the hospital, well the bus stop to the bus that was headed towards the hospital. I don't think they wanted to let me on... bleeding all over the place and all. I remember my dad went into the emergency room with me. He held my hand while they stitched me up. I still have the scar. And the memory.

I remember when I was 9, my girl scout troop leader got mad at me, reprimanded me. I don't know remember why. But I remember rushing back to the car with my suitcase (we were going on a weekend camping trip that day), and got into the car. Dad asked me what was wrong. In tears, I told him I didn't want to talk about it. He asked me if I wanted to see the new Disney movie. We drove to the store and he bought me the VHS and some ice cream.

I remember in college I failed my first and only test. I was devastated. I'd been sick for the exam and couldn't even remember what it had been about. I was so disappointed in myself. My dad picked me up from school and we drove silently the whole 30+ minutes. When we got to the house, I burst into tears, feeling like I'd disappointed my dad even though he didn't know. I cried for a long time. He let me. When I was done he waited for an explanation, and I told him. When I was finished, he told me it was fine. He told me he was proud of me; happy that I went to school when he'd never had the opportunity to do so.

That's the kind of man my dad is. Silly, kind, strong, loving... I love my dad