Father's Day

My dad died 10 years ago this past October. 

Every year I miss him more.  He would have been an amazing role model for my son, but it was because he wasn't here that I had my son. 

I believe everything happens for a reason, and that sometimes it takes years to see that reason.  When my dad passed away suddenly, we inherited his life insurance from the Army.  He was still active in the Reserves....had been for 25 years.  That was after two tours of Vietnam with the Air Force.  He got out of the Air Force and decided to try something new....so he joined the Army Reserve.   In between, he went to some Vietnam War protests.  Classic Dad.

Without that life insurance money, I wouldn't have been able to afford staying in Connecticut after I graduated from college.  Hey Dad?  Thanks for the free college.  I'd have rather had you, but if I couldn't, being able to set out on my own and make my way in the world debt free was an amazing gift. 

Because I was able to set out on my own, I started finding my own way, and found my way into a volunteer EMT gig.   After a few years in that gig, I met a man who would become my husband, and the father of my beautiful son.  We are divorced now, but still....we have a wonderful little boy who happens to have autism and is hard of hearing.  But if I had never been married, if I had never met my ex, if I hadn't had the means to be in CT after college, I wouldn't have been a Mom. 

So this Father's Day, I would like to honor my Dad for making me a Mom.  You have given me no greater gift than my son.  I'm trying to raise him the way you and Mom raised me...I hope I'm making you proud.