Today is my father's birthday and for some reason I've gotten really emotional about it. This is a milestone birthday. My dad is older than bark (love you!) and more than 7/8 of the sands of time in the hourglass have now trickled to the bottom half. I think that's what gets me a little choked up. We're at the point where I know forever is almost ending.

I'm a spoiled brat when it comes to my dad. Only he knows how to make tea the right way and I refuse to make it when he just hands me a mug of boiling hot water. This was an excerpt of our conversation last week:

"Sir? What are you doing? You know what it is, I can't possibly make this, only you know how to make the tea! Why are you acting brand new?".

His response: "Chuckle, chuckle (if you've heard it, you know it) you're so spoiled, that's why you don't have a man." then we laughed and laughed and laughed because we know I'm single because I'm a WEIRDO. He just thinks guys are blind, deaf and dumb (bless him).

It hasn't been all giggles and tea, we've had our moments. I know I frustrate him to no end sometimes and I've had to hang up a couple of times because I know my mouth, but those are the times I love him the most. He's taught me that you don't just stop talking to people over nonsense. You walk away, breathe and come back to the table. You have to "stoop to conquer" (daddy doverism!) and sometimes you have to let go of a situation because it has run its course.

My dad believes in hard work and tenacity, he believes you can do anything you put your mind to. He believed I could be a Figure Skater when I told him I wanted to be like Kristy Yamaguchi. He believed me when I said I wanted to be a Gymnast. Yea....first class, balance beam, no thanks. He believed me when I told him I wanted to go into Medicine and be a Brain Surgeon. He also believed me when I recorded my demo and was going to be a Pop Star. He believed in every single incarnation of me while telling a pudgy, buck toothed little brown girl that she was Ms. America.

Now, he asks me how "Squares" is going because he still believes in me.

Those are the things I remember now. I have a self esteem because he planted the seeds and watered it with kindness. When puberty hit, he didn't make me feel like an outcast lunatic but he understood. The change was upon me-- my circuits were being rewired and throughout the whole thing he had a kind word to say. Try telling your dad you have cramps without being mortified when you're 15 (I was a late bloomer) He said: "oh, growing pains...here's some Advil". Growing Pains?! I thought that was the classiest way of saying it. Thanks for not making it weird Dad xoxo

The man I procreate with needs to understand that my father will always be the blueprint for what a father should be. When you meet him, take notes. Listen to his advice. Learn from him because he has four living children and we're all still here. He knows what he's doing, even when he says he doesn't.

Every morning, I speak to my dad and he leaves me with these words, words that shape my day and mindset. Please, if you take nothing else away from this; take this and do this with your children. Tell them this: