Hi Dad,
Today we wouldn't have had lunch. It's tax day, afterall. We would have picked up your favorite shake -- chocolate, banana, marshmallow -- and gone for our annual late night drive to the post office. They used to put on quite a party at those things. I don't know if they do it anymore... seems most people just do their taxes online now. Shame really. It was one of my very favorite bonding times.
Those tax nights are some of my best memories with you. Well, aside from us rapping in the DMV line on my 16th birthday while we were waiting for my driving test. You forgot that memory toward the end of your life. That was difficult for me, but I feel confident now, that you remember all of those little things that slipped your mind as your body was shutting down.
Something about driving around with you and just being funny -- well, we thought we were funny anyway -- always put me at ease.
You always loved to go for "a ride." I remember being really little, and you taking the boys for rides down to "Hart's" for a drink after their Saturday morning basketball games. Then, I got old enough to play, and I got to go for rides with you too! There is no question, you loved cars. That's what made it so fun to go for rides around town with you. There was no hurry, just sit back, don't ask where we're going, and enjoy. You usually had some kind of destination in your mind, but we never knew where it was, we were just there to enjoy your company.
It's good for me to think of you on days like today. Makes me miss you, but it also makes me grateful that I got to know you so well. You were, are, the best friend a girl could ask for, but I was also lucky enough to have you for my dad too!
Love you forever,
Amy
