Dad,
It’s difficult to start these letters to you with the right words that will be as meaningful and real as I need them to be. A part of me knows I’ll never be able to do that, but I guess that just brings out the competitiveness in me that I undoubtedly get from you.
In order to express my thoughts I guess I’ll just start at the beginning.
Once Upon A time…in an itty bitty town in Georgia, you were eating pizza trying to think of a name for your soon to be first born daughter. For some unknown reason you wanted your daughters to have your initials, and I won’t try to over analyze the thinking behind that. In any case, my name had to start with a ‘D’. And either that pizza had more than just oregano on it, or God inspired you to think of “Delian.”
Intuitively, I know that I loved my name from the first moment I heard it, and that old guy at Nana and Papa’s anniversary told me I was Psychic, so don’t argue and get logical with me. But it’s more than just the name that I love, I love it because it’s from you. Thus the meaning “From the Father’s Heart.”
In my youngster years I loved you with all of my little heart. I laughed when you laughed, and wanted to cry when you were upset, especially at me. I remember how you taught me to be strong, how to get up after I fell, how to run fast, but most of all, you taught me how much God loves me by showing me how much you love me.
The years went by. Evenings spent on your lap. Your panicked face when I had to get stitches. Teaching me how to throw a baseball. Watching a White Christmas together on Christmas Eve. Whenever I got in trouble and had to get the ‘talk’ which always made me ‘shut down’ and become unresponsive, but in the end always made me a better and stronger person.
I remember thinking as a kid that I had the best dad in the world, and not just thinking that, but knowing it because I heard the other girls complain, and saw how their dad’s were distant. That was such a foreign concept to me. You let me hug you when I wanted: We could be in the middle of a grocery store, at church service, friend’s house, at a ball game, it never mattered, you were always there for me. When we were home I’d sit on your lap. I talked to you about everything. To say that you were the best dad would be an understatement.
You were my best friend.
I remember that you had to explain to me that boys actually liked me and that I was actually pretty. So embarrassing.
I remember all the times were you would get up and brag about me or talk about my antics as a kid to other people. Also, kind of embarrassing.
Still throughout the years you’ve been my constant guide, friend, and support.
You’ve been the dad that others dream of…
You’ve been the best friend only few others have.
So more than anything else dad…
Despite the fact that I turned four after I promised I would stay three…
That I had a few too many ‘boy problems’ and wore too much make up when I was 15…
(Honestly I’m having a really hard time coming up with the things that would make you not still totally love me – I guess turning four is probably the worst one).
So, more than anything else…despite all of the ‘issues’ your first born daughter had…thank you. Thank you for being there. For being a Constant Friend. A Stable Loving Father. The Encourager and Coach.
I love you most…
~Delian Jayce
PS I guess it’s a good thing that I still act three from time to time ;).
So Delu, you said you would not be able to say the right words or make this message to me as meaningful and real as it needs to be, but you did that and beyond… Besides, you are the perfect child and one of the main reasons you have six siblings, it was so much fun to be your father I kept getting your mother pregnant. How fun has that been!!! I know, GROSE…
Thank you for continuing to be you and honoring me with this beautiful post!
Love Dad!!!
P.s. I did wish you would have stayed three, or at least I wish I could go back in time, and give my three year old Del a big hug and kiss…
So Daddy,
This is a very long comment for you ;). I’m not telling you that it made me cry – cause it didn’t – maybe I got a little teary – then you spelled gross grose, and I laughed. :P
I love you – and I know a simple post on my blog doesn’t even begin to express how thankful I am for you…I was born lucky – because I was born with you as my dad…
<3
~Del
P.S. Maybe in Heaven I can morph back into my three year old self from time to time. :P I think it’d be fun to be that carefree again!
Delu,
So, knowing that my spelling is hit or miss, I asked your mother how to spell “GROSE”. Then to make sure, I googled it prior to posting on your well written blog. Below is what I found on the “all knowing” Google:
“Grose: something that is disturbing, disgusting, slightly awkward or really just not right. It is a word to fill the awkward silence between someone telling you something that you really didn’t want to know about a relationship or a medical condition…”
I believe I spelled it correctly, and this should not have caused a chuckle as you cried your eyes out over my heart warming comments… It’s a good thing I asked your mother how to spell so as not to seem like a complete imbecile.
Dad…
P.s. I would love that morph “thingy” to happen…
Hahaha, well I guess that’s one more thing that I learned from you. :P Even if it was somewhat indirectly (meaning you asked mum, then asked google, then told me). I’m glad I didn’t know anyway, you know I don’t enjoy crying!
~Del
P.S. All I can think of is concocting a potion like in Harry Potter or something!