I know a guy who

-is the best tickler around. Growing up all he had to do was even look at me and my sisters and we would burst out laughing. To this day he is the only one who can tickle me and make me laugh.

-is incredibly goofy. I love playing games with him or watching dorky movies with him.

-makes the most delicious food around, although he wouldn't ever agree. Secretly I think he knows his food is completely mouth watering, but he never likes to admit it. He's always saying something like, "Oh that pork is too dry" or "Eh, it's alright, but nothing like I expected it to be". Meanwhile, everyone around him is oohing and ahhing about the delightful tastiness that they are experiencing. He is one dang good cook.

-is dang sexy. Is that wrong for a child to say? Seriously, he is an amazing looking guy, and always has been. Not too long ago we went to Sonic together, and I heard the girl who gave us our food comment to a co-worker about how good looking he was. My friends growing up always thought he was good-looking too. Guess that's where I get it from. :)

-is a hero. As I child I was always so proud to talk about my dad, the firefighter. He was brave, strong, smart, and saved people. When he would come to my classroom with his fire-engine I thought I was so full of pride that I might burst. We got him a license plate that says "Rhero" and, although people always sound it out and think it means "reehro", we still like it because he really is our hero.

-loves listening to audio books, just like me. I love to find new books that I think he might like, and get them for him so that we can talk about the stories. It's so fun to have a dad who is interested in a lot of the same things that you are.

-is an amazing role model. Every little kid thinks he is the coolest thing around, and wants to be just like him. As I have grown older I have realized just how amazing he really is. He is so kind, and is the first person to help anyone in need. Anytime I have a problem, he is the first person that pops into my head, because he knows so much about everything and can fix almost anything. He works so tirelessly to provide for his family, and never expects anything in return. He is the best example of what I want to be.


Thanks for everything, dad. I sure do love you a lot.

For Christmas I wrote a story about my dad, that I want to share. Some day I hope to have illustrations to go along with it, but it's just the story for now.

This is the story of a superhero. A superhero named Bob. But superheros are never known by their first names. No, that just wouldn't be right. Instead superheros have cool names like Superman, or Batman, or Captain Underpants. Yes, really, Captain Underpants.

Well, Bob wanted to be a superhero just like all those other guys, so he gave himself a superhero name. Something caring, but also manly. “Hmm,” he thought, “what about: Our Hero?” (Bob was a little egotistical.) So Bob set about making himself a superhero costume. It was bright yellow, with red horizontal stripes, a black speedo and a black cape. On his chest he tried to write “Our Hero” but ran out of room. So instead Bob improvised and wrote “Rhero” in large black letters.

After doing this, Bob decided to go out into the world, and do superhero deeds. Because that's what superheros do. As Bob was flying over the Las Vegas city, he saw a little old lady trying to cross the busy street. Bob landed next to the lady and gently helped her across the street. Once they reached the corner, the little old lady turned to Bob and squeaked, “Thanks a lot, but I didn't need any help crossing the street. What, do you think I am too old do it on my own?” Bob just looked at her, flabbergasted that she could be so mean when he was only trying to help. “Next time,” the old lady grumbled as she squinted at Bob's chest, “next time, Rhero, why don't you go help someone else!” Then she sauntered off before Bob could reply, “Oh, actually, um, it's pronounced Our Hero. Not Rhero.” But she was too far away to hear.

Bob tried not to be too discouraged, and flew off to see who else he could help. Soon he came across a kitten that was stuck up a tree. At the bottom of a tree stood a little girl, with long brown pigtails. The little girl was crying big crocodile tears. Bob landed next to the little girl and said in a manly heroic voice, “Do not cry, little girl. I will save your kitten!” Bob shook the trunk of the tree, and the little kitten came tumbling down into his outstretched arms. As he turned around and handed the little orange ball of fur to the girl, she rolled her eyes and said, “Ugh, no thank you, Rhero! I was crying because that kitten gave me such bad allergies! I want it to go away forever!” And with that she ran off towards her house to tell her mother what had happened, as Bob in a small voice said after her, “Actually, it's Our Hero...”

By this time Bob was really discouraged. Why was he such a bad superhero? Why didn't anyone appreciate the things he did for them? And how on earth could he be a good superhero when people called him “Rhero”?

Bob walked sadly towards his house. He didn't feel like flying. He didn't feel like rescuing. He didn't feel like helping. Bob was depressed. As he got to the front door he took out his keys, and unlocked the lock. He stepped into the quiet house, and turned around to shut the door. But just as he did this, he heard squeals of delight and pounding footsteps running towards him. He turned around to see three little girls running as fast as their little legs would carry them, screaming “Daddy! Daddy's home!” The three girls tackled their dad to the ground and laughed as he wrestled with them. They squealed and screamed as he tickled them and teased them.

Once Bob was all tired out, he sat on the ground with his three little girls. They looked up at him with big smiles on their faces, and he could tell how much they loved being with him. “Girls,” he said to them, “are you guys proud of me?”

“Of course!” the girls exclaimed, “You're the greatest daddy around! You love us, you play with us, you teach us, and protect us. Daddy, you're our hero!” And Bob smiled, because suddenly nothing else in the whole world mattered.

And then, as if suddenly realizing the strangeness of it, Bob's oldest daughter said, “Dad, uh why are you wearing a speedo?”

The end.