My dad was the coolest. He wasn't just a dad, he was a husband, uncle, brother and grandfather. If I had any regrets at all, I regret moving so far away from my family that I missed so many years of hardly seeing them. I have fond memories of my dad - some were of us arguing, some were of laughing because he burnt pancakes and some were of him picking my sister and I up from our swim practice on Valentines Day and came home to little boxes of chocolates and a rose. I'm not going to lie, my dad could be a hard-ass but for all the right reasons. Reasons that I, as a youngster growing up, didn't know a thing about...and, perhaps, it was better that way. Five years have passed since a part of my world vanished. Nobody will ever replace him, ever. Nobody will ever fill those Fire Chief boots again. I remember going up, a not so fun highlight in the summer was practicing fire drills...I think we were the only family on the block that knew our appropriate fire exists and what to do if a fire broke out. I can attest to you, it's not just stop, drop and roll. That's for the books. I could go on and on about my dad but today, I want to reflect. Every day is a struggle, I don't expect people to understand it or sympathize or hell, even care. But, for those that have gone through the most difficult time of their live, losing someone without saying goodbye, knowing they are gone but here in spirit, it's tough. The best memory that sticks out to me, is his smile. I just hope he's looking down at me, not disappointed for the choices I've made but smiling because he knows I'll get through them. XO.