Father’s Day has always been a bittersweet day, my dad was taken from my brother and I when I was five years old.

I often even to this day think of the what if’s, he had lived, more siblings, my entire being. What I will say is that you learn, you learn to use humor in place of sorrow, use humor in place of insecurity.

Growing up without a dad was hard, beyond hard quite honestly, exhaustingly hard.

People who know me know I am honest and I don’t lie, not for myself and certainly not for anyone else. At 51 years old I reflect every Father’s Day on those who stepped up and stepped in to a role they did not ask for.

This is not centric to the male influencers in my life but to everyone, who bravely saw someone who needed protection and guidance.

The people who come to mind immediately are my Aunt Margaret who is right from the heavens above and always makes me feel protected, validated, valued and part of the family. My Uncle Eric who is lucky enough to have married my aunt and always, ALWAYS treated me as one of his own. My Aunt Rosetta who is in heaven with my father who always made me feel as crazy and ferocious as she was, dam I miss her so very much. My grandparents who reminded me all the time of my father and what we are about. My Uncle Larry who to this day I try to emulate, when you have an uncle who has just set the tone all you can do is try your best to fill those shoes.

Now, there are many others of course, like Uncle Joe, he and Aunt Jean we such a vital part to our up bringing I consider to this day Elaine, Lolly, and Charlie my actual siblings.

So what is the point I am trying to make with this long worded post. Fathers come in all shapes, ages, and genders. It’s the act of being their, being vested in the well being of someone who needs a loving hug, a loving glance, a loving note of support.

So, thank you for those who followed their hearts and stepped in for my dear brother Joseph and I when they saw we needed someone. We would not be the men we are today and love our children the way we do without your influence.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you 😌