Daddy

I know everyone always says their dad is the best, but i'm here to prove mine actually is.

I came into this world on December 26th 1993.
Ever since that day I have had my dad wrapped ever so tightly around my little finger.
For the next 18 months or so neither of my parents got much sleep because I didn't sleep because
A- I had open heart surgery and didn't feel well. Imagine that.
B- I'm a diva and bit of a difficult child
C- I slept between the two of them during that time because I refused to sleep in a crib.

So there wasn't much sleep those first few years of Julia Grace Volzke.

Owen was a bit of an easier child in that aspect that he actually slept a bit more and in his own bed.
After his first few years of life he got a little more difficult.
And I just stayed a pretty consistent difficult.
Claire has always been easy. Typical third child.

I have amazing parents and I love both of them equally.
They both fill different aspects in my life that I need.
I'm close with both but there is just something about Dad.
My mom and I are similar. Like if you start listing some of the things we are alike in,
Such as - middle children, brown eyes, hard on ourselves, strengths in the same areas of school, fighters, we have both been close with our dads, its hard for us to say no.
And on and on..

But you know how they say opposites attract?
Dad and I are different so we play off those differences.

My Dad taught me how to ride a bike in the Stott parking lot.
Running behind me as I tried not to fall off my pink and purple sparkly bike.

He also embarked upon the journey of doing Dads and Daughters which was an extra dance class where get this us daughters were paired with our dads and taught a dance.
Saturday mornings for like 3 months before the recital for three consecutive years he learned the dance.
Now dad isnt particularly known for being a great dancer, but he freaking loved every minute.
And then when it was Claires turn to do it, he did that too!
Best partner i've ever had to dance with.

And in middle school he was the chaperone for our 8th grade Taos trip.
A van full of moody girls and he handled it like a champ.

And when high school hit he was at every band competition, every band concert, every musical and every football game to support the band.
He was a pit dad so pretty much he just helped move all the equipment onto the field.
Come on a former raft guide, high school athlete and engineer this was a perfect job for him to help out with for band.
He was never musically inclined as a kid. I got that gene from my mom. But he loved supporting our music in any way possible.
He always cheered the loudest at the end of the show.
I could tell.
And you could always spot him because he was sporting, purple camo pants and he also had a pair of purple high top converse that came out occasionally.
And after every parade and show after we got changed I'd run up and get the biggest hug from him.
Always so proud and telling me how great I did.
He'd always say "Good job number 1"
Now I always thought Owen was number 1 because hes the first child and so academically gifted and we were always fighting to be the best.
But at that moment, I was the best.

When it went off to college Mom had just been diagnosed and I knew she would be ok because she had my dad to help in any way possible.
When she had her double mastectomy with reconstruction he was there by her side every step of the day. Helping her anyway possible.
Dad just knows what people need sometimes and thats a great talent to have.

When I was first learning to drive he took me to downtown denver on a friday night during rush hour.
It was a disaster and I started crying, but dad snapped me out of it.
Afterwards we went to go and get some pie.
Thats what he does, pushes you to your limit and then takes you back and gives you a hug to make it all better again.
He pushed me that night and then knew that pie was what I needed after.

He's always been a man of not many words. He tends to hang back and observe. He is a man of action. When something needs to be done it gets done.
I mean if he feels the kitchen needs to be mopped theres been plenty of morning where I have come down and found it freshly mopped from him getting up early and doing it.
He's a man of his word.
Often times when i'm home we will just go run errands together to like Ace Hardware (which is pretty much his favorite place ever) and talk or sit in silence.
Words carry a lot of weight in his mind and I feel like I can talk to him and he's actually really listening to me intently.
It could be anything from boys, to school to bassoon reeds or politics and religion, we still can discuss it.

He has always pushed me to be better and go for the stars.
If he could make something happen for us he would.
He has always worked hard to provide for our family and open any opportunities and experiences that we could have.
He got the current job hes had for the past 18 years by dropping off a thank you note after the interview. They were originally not going to give it to him because he wasn't experienced in that field but after he did that they saw how committed he was and he got the job.
And I got one of my current jobs by doing the exact same thing.

College was never a question for us. We just knew we were going to go and it would be ok. Let the parents figure out the details.
I've always admired that in him.
Nothing is too high for my 6"1' dad.
And I am extremely grateful and lucky to be blessed into a family and a world that has taken care of me and loved me so much.
I'm not exactly the easiest person to love so knowing that you have this constant support even though it may not always be deserved has helped me in leaps in bounds in confidence and going after my dreams.

I think I told him my dream to work for Darling magazine someday, and he supports me in whatever I decide to pursue.

Also its hard for me to find love because every man I seek I compare to my dad.
He was the first man I ever loved and its just hard to measure up to the perfect dad when you are a daddy's girl.
I see how my parents treat each other and I want to find someone that treats me like my dad treats my mom.
This may sound weird but if you knew my parents you would completely understand where i'm coming from.
I have very high standards because they are based on my dad.
So I will not settle for anything less than a man that is an absolute prince like my dad.

Also hes pretty much the only person in the family that I guess supports my obsession with princess stuff.
Like in Germany while we were visiting this old medieval castle he was the one that took the picture of me in front of the castle with my tiara.
The rest of the family was too embarrassed to be seen with me, but not dad.
He may not understand why I love disney princesses so much, but he loves me enough to love me because of it.



My parents always both wanted kids and each of us I think has filled a different niche in each of their hearts.
Owen was the typical rough and tumble boy but when I was born it was something totally different and same with Claire.
I can tell Dad never just wanted one gender of children.
He loves being the father of a son and two daughters.

And I love that half of my DNA has come from a man as generous and kind as he is.
We may not share much in common but we do have the same hearty laugh which I love.
Thanks dad for loving me even when i'm prickly and unlovable.
You are the best Dad a girl could ever wish for.
Here's to many more fathers days ahead!