My Social Media-less Life

Today would have been my dad’s 52nd birthday.

After he died, I stopped caring about the number, although 50 was easy to remember… but my mom mentioned it while we were cleaning yesterday and I was like… right… this is 2 years after the last time I thought about the number. Facepalm

Moving on….

I’m going to write a “letter” of sorts to my dad for what would have been his birthday. Not sure what this is going to look like, but here we go…

Papa,
Happy Birthday!
I’m sure you’ll be hearing that a lot from people today. Funny how that works… you’re not even alive anymore and people still want to wish you a happy birthday.
I mean… to be fair, I just did it too. But you and I both know I’m not doing it for you or for me. People are still touched by your life and how you lived; old friends of mine still tell me how much they think of you. And some of my “newer” friends get to hear about how very much like you I am. So they’re getting the best of you as well… although sometimes Mom might joke that it’s not the “best” of anything. Haha! You know how she is… “Don’t encourage him” has become “Don’t encourage her”, but I have a couple of best friends that laugh at all the same things I did growing up so it’s like doing the things for the first time again.
I definitely see the appeal in doing the “dumb things.” 😉
Now, what’s really weird is when I look in the mirror while I’m cleaning and listening to something like an audiobook and I make a face that looks so much like you, I have to double-check to make sure my hair is still pink. Lol!
One of the biggest things I miss about you today especially is your unusual wisdom. Some days, I expected it and other days, it surprised me, but it was always there when I needed it most.
I still miss your hugs too. I don’t think that will ever stop being something I miss. I mean… OBVIOUSLY I miss all of you… but if I had to pick just a few things to miss, those would be it.
I love you, Papa. I know I’ll see you again soon.