It's all about Dad today: Happy Birthday!!

Sigh.. I knew that I would write a post (or many many more in the future) dedicated to my Dad and what better timing than his birthday to write one for him! My dad passed away almost 4 years ago (I was 22 at the time) and it is so hard to put it into words exactly what it is like to lose a parent. But - I want to keep this post light and happy, I have already had a few tears today and I want to be able to smile a little more tonight and enjoy the day a little bit like he would have. 

So without further ado: Happy Birthday to my Dad - THE David Lee Self.

 

Yes, before I was born my dad was an animal trainer at Sea World. He looks pretty fabulous riding on that whale! :)  He always had the dream growing up to work at Sea World and he made it happen! He started out selling balloons around the park at 15 years old and in a few years was training to work with killer whales, dolphins, sea lions and other marine life. I love this photo of my Dad. We have it blown up and framed in our living room and it is so cool to see what my dad was like and the things he got to do. 

Below are a few of my favorite photos of my dad. He was an amazing man!

this must have been in the early 1950's. I love that cardigan!

barefoot, surfboard, sun tanned. that was my dad in a nutshell. He grew up living in southern California.

My dad invented this move that many animal trainers still use today at Sea World. It's called the Roman Ride when you ride on the backs of 2 dolphins. How cool. I would love to swim along a little dolphin one day. 

Moving to the 80's (aka I was brought into this world!), this is one of my favorite pics of my Dad and I. Him complete with a windbreaker, baseball hat and making sure I was snug and secure with him - and outside. (Most photos of my dad and I are taken outside.) He taught me how to throw a softball, play tennis and didn't miss any opportunity to listen to the questions I had. And I had many questions about the world, sports, life and school. Maybe that's why he got me the Greatest Answers book as a kiddo?

At my college graduation in 2007, I was so happy that he got to be there to share in the moment that I had graduated college. He was so proud and although he didn't feel 100% that day, he was not about to let that stop him from seeing his youngest graduate with a degree. 4 months later he passed away but my prayer was answered 1 year before I graduated. I wanted my Dad to see me graduate and know that I achieved what him and I had talked about all during my high school years. Graduating with a college degree. 

Happy Birthday Dad. I love you so much and I love to brag about you and know that I had the best dad. Thank you for staying up until the wee hours of the morning to make sure I made it home (late) but safely.

Thank you for asking the boyfriends of the past many questions to make sure they treated your daughter right.

Thank you for setting such an incredible example of how a husband should love a wife. 

Thank you for being my Coach, Counselor, Security Guard and driving instructor (who knew the car went that fast down Kuebler road?!).

You are the greatest and I always love telling Travis about you and can't wait to tell future little Waltzes all about their cool Grandpa and what he was like. 

"I love my girls. I'm so lucky!" - David Self talking about his wife and 2 daughters on lots of occassions. :)

But we all knew we were the lucky ones! :)