"Is there anything else you need, honey?"
``
Is
there
anything
else
you
need
,
honey
?
''
my dad asked me as he put three twenty dollar bills in my hand.
my
dad
asked
me
as
he
put
three
twenty
dollar
bills
in
my
hand
.
I was traveling back home from a family visit, and after treating me to breakfast and filling my car with gas, it was obvious that my dad wanted to make sure that I would be okay on the road.
I
was
traveling
back
home
from
a
family
visit
,
and
after
treating
me
to
breakfast
and
filling
my
car
with
gas
,
it
was
obvious
that
my
dad
wanted
to
make
sure
that
I
would
be
okay
on
the
road
.
"No, Dad.
``
No
,
Dad
.
You've done so much already.
You
've
done
so
much
already
.
Thank you!"
Thank
you
!
''
I was overwhelmed once again by his kind acts of providing everything I needed, although I turned 40.
I
was
overwhelmed
once
again
by
his
kind
acts
of
providing
everything
I
needed
,
although
I
turned
40
.
Yet I realize that in my father's eyes, I will always be his little girl.
Yet
I
realize
that
in
my
father
's
eyes
,
I
will
always
be
his
little
girl
.
He takes deep pleasure in knowing his children are all right.
He
takes
deep
pleasure
in
knowing
his
children
are
all
right
.
Now that he has enough money, he loves to give whenever he sees a need.
Now
that
he
has
enough
money
,
he
loves
to
give
whenever
he
sees
a
need
.
But this was not always the case.
But
this
was
not
always
the
case
.
Divorced from my mother when I was 11, my dad couldn't be around his kids as often as he would have liked.
Divorced
from
my
mother
when
I
was
11
,
my
dad
could
n't
be
around
his
kids
as
often
as
he
would
have
liked
.
Money was also tight; even weekend visits were rare.
Money
was
also
tight
;
even
weekend
visits
were
rare
.
However, my dad stayed in constant communication with us and made sure he was involved in our lives.
However
,
my
dad
stayed
in
constant
communication
with
us
and
made
sure
he
was
involved
in
our
lives
.
Though he couldn't always be there in person, I knew he was only a phone call away.
Though
he
could
n't
always
be
there
in
person
,
I
knew
he
was
only
a
phone
call
away
.
I could always make sure of that.
I
could
always
make
sure
of
that
.
Even now, almost 30 years later, I treasure knowing that I can pick up the phone and call Dad, and he'll be there for me.
Even
now
,
almost
30
years
later
,
I
treasure
knowing
that
I
can
pick
up
the
phone
and
call
Dad
,
and
he
'll
be
there
for
me
.
I have a wonderful husband, but that hasn't changed how Dad sees me.
I
have
a
wonderful
husband
,
but
that
has
n't
changed
how
Dad
sees
me
.
I'm still his child and he loves to see that my needs are met.
I
'm
still
his
child
and
he
loves
to
see
that
my
needs
are
met
.
I remember a time when I was shopping in a hardware store with Dad.
I
remember
a
time
when
I
was
shopping
in
a
hardware
store
with
Dad
.
I mentioned my plans to paint one wall in my house.
I
mentioned
my
plans
to
paint
one
wall
in
my
house
.
Well, that's all it took for Dad to take action.
Well
,
that
's
all
it
took
for
Dad
to
take
action
.
By the time I got to the checkout line, all the supplies I picked out were put out of my hands and placed with things he bought.
By
the
time
I
got
to
the
checkout
line
,
all
the
supplies
I
picked
out
were
put
out
of
my
hands
and
placed
with
things
he
bought
.
Then there was the time when I took him with me to do some grocery shopping for just a few "items".
Then
there
was
the
time
when
I
took
him
with
me
to
do
some
grocery
shopping
for
just
a
few
``
items
''
.
By the time we were finished, my shopping cart was full of groceries from every shelf in the store!
By
the
time
we
were
finished
,
my
shopping
cart
was
full
of
groceries
from
every
shelf
in
the
store
!
My sister and I joke that if you don't want Dad to buy it for you, avoid even mentioning you want something.
My
sister
and
I
joke
that
if
you
do
n't
want
Dad
to
buy
it
for
you
,
avoid
even
mentioning
you
want
something
.
"Is there anything else you need, honey?" my dad asked me as he put three twenty dollar bills in my hand. I was traveling back home from a family visit, and after treating me to breakfast and filling my car with gas, it was obvious that my dad wanted to make sure that I would be okay on the road.  "No, Dad. You've done so much already. Thank you!" I was overwhelmed once again by his kind acts of providing everything I needed, although I turned 40. Yet I realize that in my father's eyes, I will always be his little girl. He takes deep pleasure in knowing his children are all right. Now that he has enough money, he loves to give whenever he sees a need.  But this was not always the case. Divorced from my mother when I was 11, my dad couldn't be around his kids as often as he would have liked. Money was also tight; even weekend visits were rare. However, my dad stayed in constant communication with us and made sure he was involved in our lives. Though he couldn't always be there in person, I knew he was only a phone call away. I could always make sure of that.  Even now, almost 30 years later, I treasure knowing that I can pick up the phone and call Dad, and he'll be there for me. I have a wonderful husband, but that hasn't changed how Dad sees me. I'm still his child and he loves to see that my needs are met.  I remember a time when I was shopping in a hardware store with Dad. I mentioned my plans to paint one wall in my house. Well, that's all it took for Dad to take action. By the time I got to the checkout line, all the supplies I picked out were put out of my hands and placed with things he bought.  Then there was the time when I took him with me to do some grocery shopping for just a few "items". By the time we were finished, my shopping cart was full of groceries from every shelf in the store! My sister and I joke that if you don't want Dad to buy it for you, avoid even mentioning you want something.