Dear Pop,

Some tell me that you gained your wings on January 5, 2021. From this daughter’s perspective, you didn’t gain them because you already had them. You were an angel right here on earth. And while I know with 110% of my heart that you are up in Heaven watching over me, guiding and protecting me, I think it’s important to remember certain quirky, funny memories that we shared while I was honored to have you as my Dad on earth.

Christmas is approaching, which is difficult because you were Christmas to me. You gave me the best memories any daughter could ever wish for.

You always let me lay beside you on the couch, resting my head on your chest (I still can hear your heart beating to this day) and we would watch “The Grinch,” “Frosty the Snowman,” “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” and “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” a million times. Our favorites were the Grinch and Christmas Vacation. I remember you laughed and smiled just as much as I did during the Grinch. When you smiled, you smiled with your whole heart, your grin was as big as the Grinch when his heart grew three sizes.

I remember us sneaking into the kitchen, after Mama was sound asleep, and we fought over all the Wal-Mart Christmas sugar cookies with the green sprinkles on top. Because the green sprinkles tasted better than the red sprinkles. Even though we both knew that the sprinkles didn’t really taste any different, we enjoyed the laughter and banter it created. You would take those sugar cookies and put them into your homemade milkshakes that you made us with Breyer’s Neopolitan ice cream and Barber’s milk.

I can still see you carrying our massive, frosted, artificial tree up the stairs from the basement. I was always amazed at the beautiful red and green old-fashioned bubble lights center piece that you set up in the foyer. I remember being 6 years old and looking forward to standing in the foyer, watching and waiting for those lights to begin to bubble. To this day, I set up a bubble light centerpiece and night lights in our home.

To some kids, Santa Claus, presents, and candy were Christmas. But to me, the time I spent with you laughing and making memories was Christmas. So Pop, I know you are up there in Heaven shining down on me and I want to thank you for every single Christmas memory you gave to me. This year will be my first Christmas without you. I must admit that most people want presents under the tree; this daughter has a different wish. Pop, I wish that you could be here with me sharing a cookie milkshake and watching “The Grinch.”

You can find my project “Live Like Pop” at livelikepop.org.