Dad,

Soon I will be seeing myself in the mirror for the first day as a bride and you will be seeing me from heaven. I won't get to see your face when you see your little girl for the first time before she marries the love of her life. I'll be getting my shoes on to walk down the aisle with Mommy soon, hoping I will be able to feel you next to me as I take the one walk a dad should get to go on. This isn't the way it's supposed to be, we both know that, but if there is anything I have learned since you left us, it's to find the light, no matter how dark it is. As I embark on one of the happiest days of my life without you next to me, I want, or should I say need you to know these few things.

Thank you for being my dad. You were a one in every sense of the word, I never once questioned the love you had for me. I grew up with laughter and love surrounding me and I think I was lucky enough to inherit your sense of humor. Thank you for my sisters; we each get to carry little pieces of you and will always have each other to lean on.

Thank you for showing me what true, enduring and selfless love was by loving Mommy the way you did. I have learned that with true love comes true friendship, it's because of this I don't just get to marry the guy I love today, I get to marry my best friend as well. I hope I am lucky enough to have the timeless bond you had with each other.

We both know you were flawed and I am glad you were because I have come to forgive quicker and continue to be more patient in this life with others. I try to remember how truly precious every single day is, to always let people know I love them and to never take one single moment for granted. There are so many things I wish I said more to you, so many more stories I wanted to hear but I have to believe you know this up there in your new home.

In you leaving us, you brought us back to Tommy, Maureen and Thomas and none of us could thank you enough. I can't dance with you on my wedding day, but I do get to dance with your brother and I know it's what you would have wanted. I hope you will lend us a hand that day as tears are already falling down my face picturing that bittersweet dance.

Thank you for holding on those last few days, for letting me tell you all the things I should have told you beforehand, but I never thought I'd have to live a life without you in it. You have showed me how to be brave in the most terrifying moments of life, I now know it's easier to laugh than to cry, and I know how to find peace in good-bye even when your heart is in a million pieces.

I will never forget who taught me the best kind of laughter is the from the gut, can't-catch-your-breath kind. When people ask me how I became a Giants fan, why I like music from before my time, or where I got my stunning good looks from (Gotcha!), I won't skip a beat to let them know it was all because I had you as my dad.

I loved being your daughter, Dad. Nothing in this world will ever change that. I know you will be with me every single minute of my wedding day and every day after. There's something to be said about a father and daughter bond; time, distance, not even heaven can break that bond.

I hope you love my dress. I will forever be your little girl.

With all my love,
Erin