DEAR DADDY...

a letter to my dad, for international father's day 2025

So it's international father's day today, and I thought of what to gift to you.

I thought of a million gift ideas but none could measure up to what you truly stand for in my life.

Daddy and his Mini, 2020

How does one gift a person that gave you life, a person that didn't just give me life, but also works everyday to ensure the life I live is as comfortable as possible, a person that goes all the length to give me all of him he can afford to give?

How does one gift such a person? A person who represents God the father on earth?

When I find the answer to that question, I'll do the needful. But for now these words would have to do daddy.

I want to say I love you in the best way possible, I want to describe my love for you(which stems for the love you have for me anyway) in a way that'll blow your mind, but I doubt I ever can, you've lived years before I was even born, I doubt I have the ability to blow your mind.

So instead, I'll try to refresh your mind and memories.

Mama once (or 15 times, we both know she repeats her stories😂) told me about my birthing. How you stood along the hospital corridors and once you'd heard/seen your first baby, you went and told everyone you could that your wife and put to bed. She spoke of the glint in your eyes and pure joy you radiated at the sight of your daughter; I wonder if I felt all the love emanating from your being the first time you carried me.

I like to believe I did, because even now that you don't(Technically can't)carry me anymore, I still do, I feel the love and am so wrapped by it.

I felt the love when you'd sit me astride on your neck and we'd go to church( I was probably around age two then)

I felt the love each time you'd teach me new (mostly Yoruba) songs in our parlor.

I felt the love each time you dropped me off at school, from kindergarten, all through secondary school and even Uni.

I felt the love all those times in boarding house when you'd travel all the way (4 hours journey) every month so that you don't miss my visiting day.

I felt the love each time someone called me "iyawo daddy" or mentioned how much I look like you and you'd wear that proud smile on your face.

I fell the love, even today, that is Father's day.

I unintentionally randomly slip you into conversations with friends (I'm sure some of my friends roll their eyes and think I do too much)and people who don't even know you, it's evidence of how much present you are in my life even when school keeps us physically apart.

I'm so grateful you're my father, daddy. It may be an international celebration, but for me this is a personal one.

I love you Daddy.

love, your baby❤️

Daddy and his Mini, 2022

Writer's note:

I can't even begin to explain why and what has kept me away from posting for so long, I don't think it'll be fair if I address it in this tiny section you my reader have come to know as “writer's note”.

So I won't, I'll wait till I can fully write about it, so you can read all about it (Cue in Emily Sander's song; read all about it.)

I sent this to my Dad's DM this morning and I thought to archive it here, for keeps.

Till later, fellow overthinkers…