love day birthday!

growing up,

valentine's day has always been overshadowed

by the fact that it's my dad's birthday.

every year,

his card & cake would always have hearts on them,

and as a kid i'd get confused

about how to put

"happy valentine's day"

and "happy birthday"

into one greeting card sentiment.

actually,

it's been kind of comforting knowing that

all my years growing up,

no matter whether i had a boyfriend

or just a hopeless highschool crush,

i would always have someone i loved

to spend valentine's day with.

my dad has always been my hero,

the guy i go to first when i need advice on anything

(his wisdom about the ways of the world has always seemed infinite)

the jokemaker

(a regular occurrence at the dinner table
would be my mom yelling "stop laughing! don't laugh!!"

with tears streaming down her face

as he told joke after joke

because she knew that if we were all laughing

we'd never get him to stop!)

and the only one who could make me feel comforted

on those few teenage occasions

when i felt my world was falling apart.

his father-of-the-bride toast

at my wedding

was one of the best speeches i'd ever heard,

and he had me alternatingly laughing my head off

(as he made a few very well-aimed cracks at me)

and crying tears of love & joy

as i realized i have the best dad ever.

happy birthday dad,

i love you so much!