i watched superman walk away

I want to take a break from my normal melodrama to talk about someone super important to me: My dad.

Right now, it's Father's Day, and it's storming, and all of this is real fitting because my dad and I used to crawl up onto my parents bed, roll up the blinds and watch the storms rolls through. Sometimes, we would get real risky (and a little white trashy) and watch them from the comfort of a lawn chair and an open garage door. Safety wasn't a huge priority when it came to seeing huge bolts of lightning and then counting til we heard thunder to see how far away the storm was.

It is one of my favorite things we used to do together, I absolutely remember the smell of rain and the quick change in temperature. I've never been afraid of storms because i associate with my dad, who is my own personal Superman. I remember being SO in awe that nothing seemed to scare him. ever.

Today, it's storming in Minnesota and my dad is in Green Bay. And today I'm missing him a little bit more than normal because he just makes my life better.

Today, I called my dad. We talked about the rain and every day things and I'm just so thankful that I have a dad I can call just to talk to, who will answer the phone and spend 45 minutes shooting the shit. And really, i feel my own personal storm brewing, and i needed something to watch it roll in with.

I'm thankful that he taught me how to love sports, change a tire, and do yard work all while telling me that i could do whatever i wanted when i grew up and that i was just the prettiest little girl ever.  So thankful that he worked a hard job but never brought it home with him, who still found time to coach all my things and come to all the shows, plays and concerts. Thankful he taught me how to love action movies and crime shows and the x files.

My dad is not perfect, in fact, i learned that he's not perfect at a very early age but I know that he loves me more than anyone else. i know that I've made him crazy and mad and he literally doesn't understand what I'm thinking half the time, but i know that at the end of the day, i can always come home.

So tonight, I'm super thankful for the love of a father. Thankful that I never had to find that love and acceptance elsewhere.

So here's to the guy who has taught me how to love other people well, to be generous and kind, who taught me how to throw a ball, and to golf and how to drive and put lights on a Christmas tree, and to play cribbage (and get good enough to beat him). To the guy who wanted to teach me how to love to cook (i'm workin' on it)  but also how to read a map, and to put family first, and to not hold grudges.

Here's to you, Dad, my real life super hero. Thank you for loving me and always telling me you're proud of me.

I hope that I'm turning into all you hoped I'd be.