My Dad

My dad has always been one of the biggest influences in my life. From being a baby until now, at the age of 22. He has taught me so much stuff, both useful and unuseful stuff. Most of it has been useful though.

When I was younger, around eight years old, my dad had me help with working on his Jeep, which he had for a long time at that point. We have a picture somewhere of me sitting on the Jeep helping change parts of it. Eventually, he got sick of doing work on it and we started doing other stuff together.

Several years ago, he used to hunt and he killed a deer. He did the field dressing right after killing it but I got to help with something that most people would be repulsed by... Skinning the deer. He showed me using a small part and then I started contributing immediately after. (He also brought the heart home because that year, I was taking anatomy and physiology. In that class, if we brought a deer heart in, we could get extra credit.) We also have a picture of me helping him skin it (somewhere).

My dad is one of my family members who showed me what it means to be strong. He was a rock when my grandma (his mom) passed away, not just for me and my siblings, but for everyone. He has been in two motorcycle accidents, both causing severe injuries, and he still manages to fight for what he wants. He wants something to do as a hobby that he would enjoy. He wants a dirt bike now that everyone dislikes the idea of a new motorcycle. We all worry for his safety but he likes to joke, saying he's unkillable. This picture was after his first motorcycle accident.

We have a very special bond that I am grateful to have. I was born on his 21st birthday. He has told me for a long time that I was the best gift he ever got. Every year, we take turns deciding on what to do. Usually, we do a small family event, unless it is a milestone birthday for one of us. The next picture is of us in 2020.

At a very young age, before I even started kindergarten, he got me into shows like The Price is Right. We have pictures that I drew when I was five or six of me sitting on his lap watching it with him. When I did that with him, he worked overnights so that he could watch me during the day, instead of going to daycare. As I have gotten older, I love game shows even more. He now works during the day, so we sometimes watch Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy together. Occasionally Family Feud, if it's on. Sometimes we watch The Price is Right at Night together, which we both seem to enjoy more because the stuff is more expensive and it makes it more challenging. He taught me some tricks for some games.

He is definitely interesting in how he thinks... When I was 15, I had to go to the hospital for tests for my epilepsy. He knew I wanted to leave and I think he missed me being home too. We were on the phone at night, after he got out of work. I had him on speaker since my mom was staying the whole time this test was being done, which ended up being five days. He asked, trying to stress me out and trigger a seizure, "If your mother and I got divorced, who would you want to live with?" It didn't trigger it but I know he asked because of caring.

My dad is smart, funny, strong, and compassionate. It is because of him that I have these qualities.