Even though the new year is just getting underway, my Dad already had his birthday. Although he’s getting up there in age, my Dad still leads a really active lifestyle, and every time that he goes into the doctor for a checkup or physical, he gets told that he is still in really excellent health. Because I love my Dad with all of my heart, it makes me feel really good to know that he is going to continue to be around for a long time to come.

Although I’m glad he’s in great health, it’s definitely not something that I take for granted. I realize that there are a lot of things that can cut some one’s life short, so I always make sure to not only spend as much time with him as possible, but to truly enjoy the time that I’m with him. As the most recent example, we planned out a whole day together for his birthday. From going to his favorite restaurant to fishing once the sun went down, we had a great day together. I also gave him a leather jewelry box at the end of the day for his collection of watches, and he said that I had given him a truly wonderful gift.