My Tribute To My Dad

Tristan and Dad in AZ

Tristan and Dad in MA

It's hard to sum up my Dad in a few words in a few minutes. The best thing that I heard was from one of my Dad's best friends, Warren who said that "his family and friends were his religion." I can't think of anything better than that with my Dad. He went all out for all of us. He loved ALL of us. 

This is our first Father's Day without our Dad. We made it through the wake and the funeral (more on that to follow as it's one helluva story and he would have loved every minute of it) but we're taking baby steps to make it through the coming days. We're all a bit lost, confused and broken. We'll make it through but right now it hurts like hell.

At the wake, my sister and I got up and read a little tribute to my Dad that I wrote. 

My sister, Erin and my Dad in MA

Tristan and my Dad

Tristan and my Dad in MA

Tristan and my Dad in MA

He was a good man, a doting son, a caring brother, an uncle, a cousin, a nephew, a loving husband, an adoring Bapa. He was the best Daddy a girl could ever ask for. He was everyone’s best friend. He was all of these things and so much more.

He gave so much of himself. He was always there when you needed him. He was only one phone call away. He taught us to look strangers in the eye, smile, and say, “hi.” He’d walk into a room of complete strangers and walk out with new friends. I can’t ever remember a day out with him where we didn’t run into what he’d refer to as “a buddy of mine.” He loved everyone and everyone loved him.

I have a quote from Anne Lamott that i want to read:

“You will lose someone you can’t live without, and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly – that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with a limp.”

We’re a room full of broken hearted people. My dad wouldn’t want to leave us like that. He’d want us to smile, laugh, raise a glass, and play tunes that make us think of him. He hasn’t left us. A man like that never could. So when you think of my Dad, don’t cry. Smile, laugh, and think of the legacy he left that lives inside each and everyone of us. We love you, Daddy.