Happy 48th birthday! I hope you have been having the best day ever.
Dad, I don't say it enough, but I think you are just awesome. You do have your shortcomings, however. Like how you can be a complete spaz, like when you yell at us kids to "use our heads" or "think a little!" Or how when you get frustrated, you sigh REALLY deeply from your inner most being. You're really not that patient, Dad.
On that note: it freaks me out how much I'm like you. Remember that one time (recently) that we were stuck in our separate vehicles waiting for a train, and mom texted me saying that you were freaking out about how long the train was taking? I thought it was funny, so I told my roommate, who was riding with me. She looked at me and said, "Hmm, like father like daughter." I said, "What do you mean? I didn't say anything about the train!" Astonished, my roommate turned to me and said, "Kalli, a minute ago you muttered under your breath, 'Longest fricking train of my life.'"
We don't even realize we do it, Dad.
Gosh, Dad, you've taught me so much. You taught me how to bait a frog on a hook. You taught me to just stick to Coors Light cause it "doesn't slow you down". You taught me that there is an appropriate Tommy Boy or Dumb and Dumber quote for almost every life situation. You taught me how to be a dedicated Gopher hockey fan, even when they're having an off season. You taught me what a quality taste in music is - I'm talking John Mellencamp and Bruce Springsteen. You taught me how to put gas in my car - which, yes, was the first farm-related task I was able to pick up on. But look how much you taught me from there - how to drive a tractor (granted, I do need a refresher every now and then - I really don't get why you're so impatient with me, Dad), how to wean a calf off milk replacer, how to say goodbye to your favorite sow before it's in the freezer, how to plant and care for a garden. It's like you always say, Dad, "There's nothing wrong with eating your hobbies." You taught me to work hard, to pull my own weight, and to balance my checkbook (yes, Dad, paper trails are important and all that).
My favorite thing about you, Dad, is that you were always DOING stuff with us kids growing up. You took us camping, fishing, golfing, swimming in the ditches, showed us what sales barns are all about, taken us on several All-American Family Vacations (including a road trip to Yellowstone and back AND DisneyWorld more than once), played kickball and baseball and football and basketball with us, took us on picnics, gave us piggy back rides and four wheeler rides and tractor rides...and you have taken me to cut down a live Christmas tree every year of my life...which is my most favorite tradition, Dad.
Dad, most of all, because I know I don't say it enough, I just want you to know how grateful I am that I got to have you as a dad. And gosh, I'm so proud to be your daughter. Thanks for being so hardworking every day of your life, and for being supportive of all the decisions I make. Thanks for letting me mess up and figure things out for myself every once in awhile. Thanks for not running away with it when I tell you, "Gee, Dad, you were right." Thanks for all the hugs and unconditional love. You have set the bar pretty high for any guy that I choose to marry and start a family with.
Oh, and thanks for all the "humbling" nicknames. I've loved being affectionately called "Meathead" my entire life. It's really formed me into the person I am today.
I love you, Dad. Happy, happy birthday.
Love,
Kalli
