Dear Daddy,

You tell me stories of how when I was a baby, the only way I would fall asleep was when you sang me a lullaby. And how everyone said that I was your parrot and that we were permanently connected. You say I was a fussy eater (hard to believe now) and you would devotedly dance to Elmo to get me to eat my food. You have carried me a ridiculous number of miles atop your shoulders (my favorite place to watch fireworks from), both literally and figuratively.  I remember one of my earliest memories is waiting for you to come home from work for lunch. Mom would keep me busy in the mornings, but as soon as I saw you from the patio door, I would be jumping up and down. Always,  right beside the lunch Mom made, was the little mini- poli I had lovingly made. I used to love watching how you would finish it in one bite. Fast-forward a couple years and I remember when you used to travel like crazy for work and would come home late from your flights. You always remember to bring me back something special, no matter how busy you are. But better than the presents were the hugs saved specially for me. You taught me how to ride my bike even when I kicked and screamed in the middle of the road. You convinced me that I could do it. We used to have a little red and black plastic chess set with flimsy pieces and that is what you used to first teach me chess- how all the pieces moved and what they did. You helped me push through the chess positions they assigned for homework even though I didn't want to work hard. Slowly your dream for me became my dream. And when I finally saw my first success, you took me to the other side of the world so I could experience it. My whole life, you have pushed me to pursue my heart and always do my best. In middle school, when I first began to discover who I am as a person, you were the one that put me on the right track. Every day, when you picked me up from school, I had close to 40 minutes to talk to you about everything from nuclear chemistry, to politics, current events, and stuff that was happening at school. I literally used to look forward to that all day. It never ceases to amaze me how you could have well educated conversations on almost any topic- I'll admit, sometimes I would go out of ny to find a topic that you didn't know about. When we moved into the new house, and I began high school, that time to talk with you was one of the things I missed most. But we've filled that in other places now! My whole life, you have been the fire extinguisher to my temper. You've seen and been exposed to the absolute most horrid parts of me. Yet, no matter what I do, you come back with a calm attitude and loving words. Most of the time, you understand what is going on inside me more than I do. You always know the right thing to say and do to make me feel better- you're awkward bear hugs help too. You've fought many personal battles but you come through it all with resilience, hard work, and pure grit. For that you are my hero. As I move through life, you are always there with me, ever-adapting. Whether it be helping me with my Pre-Calc until 1:00 AM, relearning Chemistry for me, or helping me with whatever other emergency, you always go above and beyond the call of duty. Through it all, you maintain your other side- the fun-loving one that teaches (literally drags me into) me to play cricket, or the one that dares me to go on the scariest biggest roller coaster. My go-to image of you in my head is of you singing some song in the kitchen downstairs with that amazing voice that made Mom fall in love. Or else, you cracking some really-not-funny joke but laughing at it yourself until we are all on the floor laughing. What I'm most thankful for is that you taught me to be human- you taught me that every human being has fears and emotions, and that is only natural. Fears are meant to be overcome and emotions are meant to be felt and to heal. Whenever you are around, I am not afraid of anything. I could keep writing this for the rest of my life and it still wouldn't do you justice. When I am older, I want my future husband to be just like you. More importantly, I hope you always always know how immensely important you are to me, how thankful I am for everything you do, and, especially,  how much I love you. Happy Father's Day!

Love, Soumya

P.S. Sorry for the sentimental trip down memory lane.