Do you know?

Do you know the good you’ve brought into this world?

Do you know the impact you’ve had?

Do you know how many people love you? Respect you? Want to be like you?

Do you know that your life meant something? Meant everything.

Do you know that you gave me a passion for knowledge and a stubborn independence? You gave me what I needed to survive. And thrive.

Do you know that you gave my boys the love and safety and example of a father? A man. A powerfully good human.

Do you know that it was you who showed them that we help others? We are there for our family. Our friends. Our community. Strangers. We do good whenever we can.

Do you know your influence extended beyond your daughter and your grandchildren? Extended to your nieces and nephews. Extended to the friends of your daughter and your grandchildren. Extended to so many.

You provided a safe space for more than just me. More than just my sons. More than just your great-grandchildren. You provided a safe space for everyone lucky enough to find their way into your world.

The way your older grandson works so hard all day, but always makes time for his children when he gets home? That’s you. He learned that from you.

The way your younger grandson is analytical and puts so much care into the world around him? That’s you. He learned that from you.

The way all of us approach others with calm and care? Until our family is threatened, forcing the gloves to come off? That is also you. We learned that from you.

And the humor. Our dry, witty humor that is my favorite part of myself and my sons. That we got from you.

Do you know that the favorite memories of so many people include you? Those favorite memories are because of you.

Do you know that your life, your powerful life, will continue to push good into this world long after you’re gone? Long after I’m gone. Because you’ve impacted generations. And those generations will carry that impact with them forever.

I love you, dad.