To My Dad
If I’m being honest this might be the hardest essay to write, not because I don’t know what to write, but because I don’t know how to get out everything I want to say to you.
Dad, you are the person I look up to, you are my listener, you make me laugh, you held me when I cried, and most of all you showed me what unconditional love looks like. I can’t tell you how lucky I am to have someone in my life who looks after me as much as you do. You have always been my rock. When I would be upset that I wouldn’t get into the Missoula Children's Theater plays, you would make me laugh and ask me if you needed to go beat someone up. I would purposely pretend to be asleep in the car when we got home when I was little because I liked it when you would carry me inside. I liked it when you put me up on your shoulders because there is no place higher than sitting up there. I liked it when I would walk downstairs in a crop top and you told me those aren’t real clothes. I love a lot of memories I have with you, and I can’t wait for the many more to come. I can’t wait for you to watch me accomplish my dreams, walk me down the aisle, and one day hold my children. I hope that one day I can be as kind, calm, and caring as you. I want my own family to know how much I love them like I know how much you love us. You aren’t just my Dad, you’re my coach, teacher, and my hero. I’ve learned a lot from you, like how to tie a hook, how to change my blinker bulb, how to put in a new toilet, how to slide into home (well I’m still working on that one) but most importantly how to value myself.
A quote by Gregory E Lang says, “ A daughter needs a dad to be the standard against which she will judge all men”. Thanks to you I know exactly who I want to be, and who I want to be around me. I want someone to love me the way I know you do. Dad, I can’t tell you how proud I am of you. I know you go through a lot and always put on a brave face for us, but I want you to always remember that I got your back just like I know that you always have mine. I know I’m not a little girl anymore, but through all these years I have looked up to you and I will continue looking up to you, because sometimes life's hard, and there’s no one I would rather have in my corner than you. I might be biased when I say this but if anyone deserves a Father of the Year award it’s you, you’ll always have my vote. I love you Dad and I always will.
Ember Martin
3 December 2023