Happy 61st Dad!
Dear Dad,
It's hard to believe you have been alive for so long. Thinking about being 61 seems just to hard to imagine. But I do hope, when that day comes, I can look back, reflect, and have as much to be proud of as you do.
For starters, you are and always have been a great father. I have recently been able to see the immense love you have for your children. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that you would do ANYTHING for us. We feel your love everyday, even when we don't show it.
And an amazing Grandpa. Luke loves you. I don't know what you did to win him over, but he prefers you out of all of us. It has been so fun watching you two together, like two peas in a pod.
Even though I hated getting up at 5am for daily scripture study, I am now grateful for the example and tone you set for our family. It was never a question what was most important in your life, us, and the gospel. I have made many of the choices in my life because of what you taught me.
I admire your talent, you are truly an amazing artist. In many ways. I don't know anyone else
that has a dad that can play the guitar, bass guitar, mandolin,
accordion, & harmonica. You also have an amazing voice. You are a
great artist and designer, I mean the cart in the A? It's ingenious! You
dress better than almost anyone I know, wonder where I got that from?
And you have such great taste in furniture, architecture, and art. I am
finally proud of the house I grew up in, sorry I didn't appreciate
it sooner Dad.
And I don't know if this counts as art, but I have always bragged that my dad is a magician. I can't wait for Luke to watch Randall the Great perform his amazing tricks.
Best of all, I love the things that make you you. Absolutes? never (he has no favorite food, color, artist, musician, etc.), you cannot tell even a white lie (even when it is someone on the phone we DON"T want to talk to), you laugh harder at our stories, jokes, & smart remarks, than anyone else, you eat only a small bowl of cereal in the morning that lasts you until mid afternoon, there is no way any of us could ever beat you at anything, you sneeze really loud,& you have very loud voice fluctuations (the last two, I have also developed through the years), you can be very laid back (when you want to be), you are cheap, you have great taste in music (can you sing and play ALL of the Shins songs?). You can carry on a conversation better than anyone, and you are a great listener.
Thank you for being alive and being my dad all of these years! Here's to many more.
Happy Birthday Dad!
Love,
Alysha
ps. sorry I didn't get you a present, don't words mean more anyway?
Wednesday, August 29, 2007 at 2:54PM
Reader Comments (4)
awe! that is soo nice of you. I always seem to pop in and read around someone's birthday. you guys rock!
Can I buy a word please? What she said. Daddy, or as I like to call you Randall, or boss man, or Dude, (I actually have never called you that but I can always start), you are a terrific and wonderful father. And she's right, you will do anything for us, and there are no words, no words or letters or vowels that I can write here or say that will ever be able to express the amount of 'thank you's' I owe you because of what you are willing to do & what you have done for us (especially me) 'kids.' Thanks for 'spending' your birthday on us and with us. It's one we won't forget. And one I'm sure you won't either for the next, 6-10 months. I love you.
P.S. Sometimes I wish you still rocked the 'stache. JR is trying his best, but no one can do it like Randall S. Smith did.
Lysh: Your post was unexpected and so touching, that I had to compose myself for a day or two before I responded with a comment (and now Tara’s added one as well). Your expressions of love are overwhelming. Your expressions of my attributes are simply not believable, but sincerely appreciated nonetheless. You are right, words do mean more and the only things that truly last. Thanks Alysha (and Tara) for your love. -- Dad