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My Dad - Always There To Lean On

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Father's Day is a perfect time to pay tribute to all dads, who have done so much to help us grow into the people we are today - and my father has without a doubt, helped me become the woman I am.

Growing up I thought my dad was a superhero - always protecting me and keeping me safe. Just holding his hand made me feel like nothing could ever go wrong.

1975

Many times at night, I would crawl out of bed to find him asleep on the couch and I would curl up next to him knowing that was best place to be on earth.

Of course I thought he was the smartest, most handsome man ever and I realize as I look back how much time we spent together early on in my childhood. Whether singing "New York, New York" by Frank Sinatra in our living room, coaching my softball team, teaching me how to drive or making me 18 pancakes for breakfast on Sunday mornings, he always did it with the sweetest smile and kindest heart. (Yes, I would eat four stacks of four pancakes for breakfast and they weren't the silver dollar size!)

(Wrapped around my finger. Here is the puppy he said we couldn't have)

When I was sick, he was there at my bedside (you should hear about the now infamous Pork and Sauerkraut episode of 1990, the details are gruesome but let's just say only the true love of a father could do what he did that night!)

Even as a teenager, when my life became more about me and my friends, he watched quietly from the background, observing and listening, knowing just when to step in to hold me accountable for my actions.

High School Graduation.

He's seen me at my best: runner up in Carvel ice cream's Little Miss Half Pint pageant, graduating college, becoming a Philadelphia news anchor and becoming a parent myself to two wonderful boys.

And he has seen me at my worst...(I won't mention those, but some of it was ugly!) Those times, my dad would tell me things I didn't want to hear - but in the end, its exactly what needed to be said, and I have no problem saying now, that he was ALWAYS right!

My Hero, Always!

Many women are close to their mothers and I love mine very much... but it’s my Dad with whom I share a very special bond... the man who still makes me feel like that little girl he cooked so many pancakes for all those years ago.