Today my dad would be turning 69. There is not a day that goes by that I do not think of him; however, on milestone days like today, I find it a little harder to focus and to not feel sorry for myself that no one else gets why there is a little less spring in my step. I will have a lower tolerance for issues that are not all that critical, and I may appear somewhat disinterested. I will be thankful for the string of meetings to keep me distracted enough to get me through my (half) day. And then I will somehow manage to focus enough to get through a two-hour Corporate Finance final (hoping I can pull together some of the smarts I got from my dad) and a final Leadership class. Then, we can finally celebrate my dad.

This will be the third birthday without him. I still cannot type those words without my eyes swelling with tears. I miss him so much. Particularly on days like today when my brain feels completely overloaded and my body exhausted and I just need someone to tell me I can do it and that he is proud of me. My dad was my cheerleader.

Two years ago on my dad’s birthday, Patrick and I took the train to Wilmette to have breakfast at Walker Bros Original Pancake House – one of his favorite places to stop for a Denver omelette. Last year we had dinner at Portillo’s and indulged in a slice of chocolate cake – another of his favorites and also happened to be his last birthday cake. Tonight we are headed to Adobo Grill – someplace I never got to enjoy with my dad but somewhere I know he would love. I cannot wait to reminisce (I have become pretty comfortable having tears run down my face in public places as of late – poor Patrick) and have a margarita in his honor.

Happy Birthday, Dad. I love you.