Ode, From A Daughter To Her Father

You gave me the twinkle in my eyes,
The quirky way I smile and the shape of my mouth,
The heart on my sleeve,
The slender and length of my body, fingers and toes.
You gave me life.
I adore you.
We all do.

You gave me many happy memories,
Of dancing on the tops of your feet as a tiny little girl.
I looked up at you with giggles of joy,
As you held me up steady and strong.
You led me through my innocence.
I adore you.
We all do.

You taught me to ride horses.
You taught me to drive.
You helped me through grammar and arithmetic as best you could.
You guided your baby girl through to my independence.
You were strong as I shed my innocence.
I adore you.
We all do.

You encouraged me through boot camp,
As I began to make my own way in life.
As I lay there in that hospital bed half dead and barely alive,
I saw you cry like a baby for the first and only time.
You were my lifeline into adulthood.
I adore you.
We all do.

You were supportive, but firm when you needed to be.
You were so protective even though you didn’t need to be.
You nursed me through so many heartaches.
You gave me so many loving words of wisdom.
You are a major part of why I am the woman I am today.
I adore you.
We all do.

I’m grown now and ready to start a family of my own.
I look back at what I’ve learned from you,
And what I can teach my own children when they are born.
Love, compassion, generosity, strength, independence, dignity, integrity, honesty …
You taught me all these things and so much more.
I adore you.
We all do.

In case you didn't know ...
I love you daddy.