Dear #1 Dad,

I remember all the times you called me your #1 son.

I remember you holding my hand.
I remember when you bought me my first goldfish.

I remember when you helped me bury my first goldfish in the backyard.
I remember sitting on your lap in your favorite chair as you read to me at night.
I remember snuggling with you in bed.

I remember how much you loved our dog.
I remember you teaching me not to pet our dog’s eyes or pull on her tail.
I remember you getting me Atari and playing games with me.
I remember you putting your hand on my shoulder and telling me you loved having me as a son.

I remember you teaching me how to mow the lawn and shovel snow.
I remember you showing me how to use your tools.
I remember you hugging me when you came home from work.
I remember sitting with you at New York Yankees games and reminiscing about you doing the same with your father.
I remember you teaching me the importance of family.

I remember you teaching me right from wrong.
I remember you praising me when I did well in school.
I remember you driving me to visit relatives.
I remember when you played monopoly with me.
I remember you holding my hand when we would cross streets.
I remember seeing you go to work every day in your suit and wanting to be like you.

I remember when you used to take me into town for pizza.
I remember your cousins club meetings.
I remember when you took me for haircuts.
I remember everything you did to make my Bar Mitzvah fun.
I remember you opening the car door for us and holding doors open for people wherever we went.
I remember when you took me to get black and white cookies.
I remember you measuring me on the wall every few months with a pencil to monitor my growth.

I remember you pitching to me in the backyard.
I remember you coming to my little league games after work and cheering for me from the bleachers.
I remember visiting you at work and being fascinated by your career.
I remember when you cried with me when our dog passed away.
I remember when I was cooking and my food caught fire in a pan and you put it out and didn’t get mad.
I remember playing chess with you.
I remember when you taught me how to cut firewood.
I remember when you taught me the importance of getting along with my sister.

I remember you teaching me not to leave lights on in the house.
I remember when you decided to pay extra to get me braces instead of a retainer.
I remember you buying me four bags of Bachman’s pretzel rods every week.
I remember watching you cut coupons.
I remember every time you believed in me.
I remember you coming to my tennis matches.
I remember when you helped me write speeches.
I remember when you drove me to my first job.
I remember when you taught me how to work hard by your own example.

I remember how kind you were to my friends.
I remember our garage sales.
I remember all the times you made me feel better.
I remember when you taught me the importance of voting.
I remember when you introduced me to Arthur Ashe.
I remember when you taught me not to litter.
I remember all the times you took me to the doctor and told me I would be all right.
I remember when you drove me to camp.
I remember when we discussed politics.
I remember when you taught me to speak out against prejudice.
I remember you being supportive no matter how I did in school.
I remember when you taught me the importance of writing thank you notes.

I remember when you taught me to drive.
I remember our father and son trips.
I remember when you helped me open my retirement account.
I remember the look on your face when we saw Mickey Mantle.
I remember how much you helped people when they needed you.
I remember when my friends would complain about their Dad and I thought about how lucky I was you were my Dad.
I remember all the birthday cards you gave me telling me how proud you were of me and telling me you love me.
I remember when you drove me to college and helped me move into my dorm.
I remember your relationship advice.
I remember the times you would drive to see me in college and we would have dinners out and take walks.
I remember when you told me you were proud of me when I graduated college.
I remember how hard you laughed at Buddy Hackett jokes.
I remember when you told me you were proud of me when I got my first big job.

I remember laughing with you.
I remember when you moved to Florida to be closer to me.
I remember when I would move in Florida and you would move too so you could stay close to me.
I remember our walks on the beach.
I remember how you helped me write annual reports for work to help me advance my career.
I remember when you came to my events.
I remember all the time you calmed me down.
I remember when you would call to tell me to watch something educational on television.
I remember when I was preparing to move and you gave me all of your treasured antique furniture as a gift.
I remember every time I would meet a friend of yours and feeling like they already knew me.
I remember how much you cared about people.
I remember how much you loved Pretzel.
I remember all the times you told me you love me.
I remember how excited I was when you finally let me interview you two months before you passed away.
I remember how excited you were to move across the street from me which was only days away.

I remember the last time I saw you.
I remember the last time we spoke.
I remember you.

Love,

Your #1 Son