Dads are appreciated

My dad, John, is a man that everyone should have the pleasure of meeting. He's the man that would encourage you to live life to its fullest. You might meet him playing baseball. He's on Desert Storm, the winning team of 80year-olds that took first place in the World Championship for 2008. My dad plays outfield three days a week, every week, sometimes three games in a day. He runs, dives, slides and rolls to make those winning catches. He'll call me from his car right after a game to tell me about his latest win or home run.

The passion that he has for playing baseball is the same kind of passion I know he has for me and my sister. Although our family life in the 1960s wasn't a bowl of cherries, like many families, my dad was always and continues to be there for us.

As a teenager I rebelled against my dad, not understanding his challenges as a husband and father. It has taken me until my 50s to understand and accept the love my father has for us. I tear up knowing that I was too blind and stubborn to see or feel his love most of my life. Lucky for me, I have let go of the past and see my dad for the amazing man that he truly is.

These days I treasure every moment with my dad. It doesn't matter what we do as long as we spend time together. We always hug and say we love each other on a regular basis, which we never did in the past.

In the past I referred to him as John. Today it's my honor to call him Dad. David Holt Westlake Village