Dad

This is adapted from the eulogy I gave for my father and may contain references to U2 songs.

Most of what is good about me comes from my father. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2019.

That year I was living abroad. I woke up one weekend morning in March and went about my normal morning routine. In the middle of getting ready to leave the house, I received a video call from my cousin that my father passed away.

I was dumbfounded.

Immediately, I called my elder brother, and he confirmed the devastating news. I began to plan my trek across the globe to lay my father to rest and then went about my business of the day. I had important things to do, but because I am my father’s daughter, I ultimately found myself in the most appropriate situation for the moment: at an Irish pub slugging back Irish whiskey and Guinness, raising a pint to the old man knowing wherever he was he’d very much approve and likely be doing the same thing.

Dad and me at his 60th birthday party.

In that moment (and the ensuing days afterward), I was able to reflect on how my father and I are innately alike and all the things he taught me.

Now I should tell you, my parents are divorced and that was often a very messy situation, so I didn’t grow up with my dad, but he did the best he could.

From the stories I’ve heard from anyone who has ever met him, my dad was the G.O.A.T!