My Hero
On August 3, 2011, I lost my mentor, hero, inspiration, best friend, and my father. It was very sudden, and unexpected. I spoke at his funeral, and this was my eulogy if you would like to read it.
In fifth grade, I had an assignment to write a paper about my hero. I wrote about my dad. I will be a senior this year, nothing has changed, he is still my hero. My dad was a mench. My mom told me a story about one of their first dates. They went out to dinner, and the waitress forgot to put the sodas on the bill. Now while most people would be like “hey sweet! I don’t have to pay for this!” my dad called her over, told her, and paid the new bill. He did the right thing.
His primary job was being in sixth/ eleventh grade. Or fifth/ tenth grade. He was always helping Jonathan and me with homework and projects. Staying up late to help us get them done, even after we went to bed! When I would bring home a good grade, and I’d tell dad, he would stop whatever he was doing, and do the “happy dance." I am so lucky to have had a father like him.
My dad was incredibly intelligent. I had always wondered how he came to make a decision between things when one was needed. Last Monday, we played Apples to Apples while we were in Philadelphia with my grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousin. If you have played it before, you know it’s a really funny game, and you have to rule out things that won’t fit in a certain category, and give your reasoning… Even though it wasn’t something serious, watching him, and listening to his reasoning was the coolest thing ever because I got to hear both sides why something could work, and couldn’t work, but how this one could work better than that one.... I hadn’t seen him that happy in a long time.
He was really serious when he needed to be, but the rest of the time, you would say something and end up having a conversation like this:
“Dad, I’m hungry”
“Nice to meet you hungry, I’m dad.”
“Dad, I’m serious.”
“I thought you were hungry.”
*Facepalm!*
But his dry sense of humor never failed to make me laugh. I remember my dad chasing me around the island in the kitchen when I was little. I remember the laughter.
I could stand here and tell you a bunch of stories about my dad, but the words wouldn’t do justice to the man. I never thought I would have to think about doing something like this. I knew my dad better than I knew anyone else. He was my best friend. I had a special connection to him that I cant even begin to explain. If you asked me to explain my dad in one word, I couldn’t give you one. There is not one word. Not one that can even begin to explain my dad. My dad was incredible, generous, patient, genius, devoted, and he had so much love to give to my family, without any boundaries. He would do anything for us.
When we had company over, and they would say “thanks for having me” in typical dad fashion, he would reply “thank you for being had.” So dad, thank you for having me, I know what your response would be.
In fifth grade, I had an assignment to write a paper about my hero. I wrote about my dad. I will be a senior this year, nothing has changed, he is still my hero. My dad was a mench. My mom told me a story about one of their first dates. They went out to dinner, and the waitress forgot to put the sodas on the bill. Now while most people would be like “hey sweet! I don’t have to pay for this!” my dad called her over, told her, and paid the new bill. He did the right thing.
His primary job was being in sixth/ eleventh grade. Or fifth/ tenth grade. He was always helping Jonathan and me with homework and projects. Staying up late to help us get them done, even after we went to bed! When I would bring home a good grade, and I’d tell dad, he would stop whatever he was doing, and do the “happy dance." I am so lucky to have had a father like him.
My dad was incredibly intelligent. I had always wondered how he came to make a decision between things when one was needed. Last Monday, we played Apples to Apples while we were in Philadelphia with my grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousin. If you have played it before, you know it’s a really funny game, and you have to rule out things that won’t fit in a certain category, and give your reasoning… Even though it wasn’t something serious, watching him, and listening to his reasoning was the coolest thing ever because I got to hear both sides why something could work, and couldn’t work, but how this one could work better than that one.... I hadn’t seen him that happy in a long time.
He was really serious when he needed to be, but the rest of the time, you would say something and end up having a conversation like this:
“Dad, I’m hungry”
“Nice to meet you hungry, I’m dad.”
“Dad, I’m serious.”
“I thought you were hungry.”
*Facepalm!*
But his dry sense of humor never failed to make me laugh. I remember my dad chasing me around the island in the kitchen when I was little. I remember the laughter.
I could stand here and tell you a bunch of stories about my dad, but the words wouldn’t do justice to the man. I never thought I would have to think about doing something like this. I knew my dad better than I knew anyone else. He was my best friend. I had a special connection to him that I cant even begin to explain. If you asked me to explain my dad in one word, I couldn’t give you one. There is not one word. Not one that can even begin to explain my dad. My dad was incredible, generous, patient, genius, devoted, and he had so much love to give to my family, without any boundaries. He would do anything for us.
When we had company over, and they would say “thanks for having me” in typical dad fashion, he would reply “thank you for being had.” So dad, thank you for having me, I know what your response would be.