Dear Dad,

I think about you a lot. I miss you and mom more than I know how to say. I wanted you to know that I haven't forgotten you. It's interesting, but I keep remembering things about you, about spending time with you, things that I had almost forgotten. It's a blessing to have those memories.
The earliest memory I really have, or that I'm sure I have is one summer when you left for your two weeks of guard duty. I don't remember a lot about the time you were gone, but I remember when you came home. I ran out of the house and met you half way up the side walk. I remember you gave me a big hug and asked if I had been good for mommy. You brought me a popple that day, not that the popple was important, but you knew I liked them and you took the time to find me one. As a five year old, that probably didn't mean as much as it does now. You always took the time to find out about each of your boys.

When I was a bit older, you took a lot of time every weekend to spend with us boys. Some how there was always something special for us to do. Driving to Mesa Falls, or to the Big Springs to feed the fish. I remember how special I felt to be out with you. Just us.

You taught me a lot on various driveways. For a long time I was a flashlight holder and a tool fetcher. After a while you let me start disconnecting somethings and re-connecting them later. To be honest, later, I always delighted in your surprise when you learned I had fixed something all by myself. Mom said it made you proud of your boys when they figured something out by themselves.

You and I didn't always see things the same way, but you always listened to my point of view, and, on the rare occassion when things got a bit heated, you always were willing to apologize and say you loved me. That has always meant a lot. I always knew you loved me.

You would have been 67 today. I know someone smarter than me had other plans for you, but I wish you were here.

I know you are busy doing important things now. I'm glad to know that you feel better than you have in a while. I guess I just wanted to say, I  love you, I miss you. I'm trying really hard to be as good of a man, father, husband, brother and friend as you were. Love you Dad.