By his lead we grew up knowing that family is the most important thing. Even though we may be different and sometimes difficult, we will always love and support one another.

Today, on your birthday Dad, we thank you for being a good father and husband to our mother and for being a large part of what kind of adults and parents we are today.

Thanks Dad for giving us memories of the sweet smell of cut grass in the summer heat, while sweeping grass clippings on the driveway.

Thanks for taking us swimming on summer nights.

Thank you for pleasantly suffering through all of our dance recitals and school events.

Thank you for making us take piano, and for tutoring us in Spanish, and math, and any other subject we’d rather not think about today.

Thank you (sort of) for introducing our children to chocolate milk and cream soda.

Thank you for loving our mother faithfully and constantly.

Thank you for always being there when we need you to bounce an idea off, blow off steam, or get direction.

Thank you for always welcoming us home and showing us how to face any “crisis” with calm presence of mind. (Particularly hurricane evacuations.)

Thank you for accepting our spouses.

Thank you for never giving up on yourself, our mother, your children, and your grandchildren.

Thank you for pushing us to improve ourselves, never settling for mediocrity.

To quote your grandchildren, “Who’s the Boss? PaPa!”