Dad Appreciation Post
We officially closed on our house at the beginning of July, and my dad drove up from the Bay Area a week later to help us with some house projects. He spent 3 weeks refinishing hardwood floors, replacing the kitchen and dining room floors with new LVP, and installing a new bathtub with tile. There were plenty of additional projects here and there as well. Trav helped out where he could and did a lot of painting and prepping, and within 3 weeks we were looking at a completely new home. We are now settling in and adjusting to life in this new, beautiful space.
One of the things I love about my dad is how effortless he makes things look. He explains things along the way, making me feel confident that I can learn how to do things around the house as well, which is an important frame of mind as a new homeowner. Of course, we can hire help when we need, but it’s nice to fix things ourselves if we can figure it out. When I was nervous about the inspection reports we received during escrow, he encouraged me that “everything is fixable.” I love that our new house will always have his touch on it. The wood floors are imperfect (due to years of being covered in carpet) but beautiful, we have a fresh coat of paint everywhere, and we have a new bathtub for the kids. I was amazed how much he accomplished in such a short amount of time, and I feel so grateful for his help. I am so thankful for his ability to transform our new home into ours.
My dad is a constant reassurance that I can do things I put my mind to, and a reminder that I don’t always have to follow the path most travelled (although I am a very traditional person and usually do). My dad on the other hand is always on his own path, defining his own timeline. He’s confident things will work out and doesn’t stress about much (that I can see). He lives in the moment, loves to tell stories, and cracks jokes all the time. He’s a fun person to be around, and he lights up the room with his presence.
He’s not big on giving life advice, but he has guided my path during pivotal moments of my life with small nudges of advice. He led with the carrot and not the stick; he encouraged me to at least apply to several colleges during my senior year of high school, and during my first year at Chico State he encouraged me to at least give it a year when I wanted to quit. Those two moments shaped my life forever and in the best way possible. I’ve had some of the best experiences of my life in college and made lifelong friends and memories. I met Travis there and now we have a beautiful family and life here in Humboldt County. All because he gave a gentle encouragement that I should at least try.
So, this post is a thank you to my dad for being my supporter and my support. Thanks for your presence and your warmth — I’ve always felt loved unconditionally. I hope we have many more years together to experience all the beautiful things life has to offer.
