In Honor of Father’s Day

Just like I did for Mother’s Day, I wanted to dedicate today’s post to my dad. Papa Dani California Cooks is my voice of reason, my mentor (both professionally and personally), and an amazing example of the kind of parent I want to become one day. So, Dad, here goes!

1. I love that we can talk about work, life, health, and everything in between. We just have so much in common, and I love that nothing is off-limits between us.

2. I love the example you have set for healthy living - consistently working out, spending lots of time outside, the healing powers of a good dunk in the cold ocean.

3. I love your stories from your life before kids. I can’t imagine you as a 19-year old surfer bum, but I like to know that you had all of these adventures and were kind of a wild child. Makes me realize that no matter the twists and turns life takes when you’re young, that doesn’t mean that your dreams/career won’t follow the path you want it to later on!

4. I love your sense of fun and sense of humor. Mom doesn’t call you her third child for no reason.

5. I love that you can really relax and turn it off when you need to. Growing up, you were running a business AND selling that business but you were so present in our lives, and I never thought of you as a workaholic. Set a really good example for me for work/life balance.

6. I love that our OCD tendencies (read: list making) are totally aligned.

7. I love how much you just want our little family to always be together. I think you’re happiest when the four of us are hanging out in the jacuzzi and that makes me happy too.

8. I love that you’ve always supported what I’ve wanted to do, no question. Whether it be the major I chose, starting this blog, studying abroad, moving to DC, moving to SF, whatever, I never felt like I needed to justify it to you.

9. I love the memories I have of the little adventures we used to take. Whether it be during my surfing phase and going beach camping, or digging through alleys for usable trash, or going grocery shopping when Mom was out of town, or any of our runs to grandpa’s bench - they are comforting to me!

10. And last but not least, I truly think that I got lucky with having you as my dad. I am so sad I can’t be there to celebrate with you today, but I love you and hope we can cross paths this week in Seattle!

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