A year ago today, my family suffered a terrible tragedy. He was a son, friend, husband, and an airman. But to me and my sister, he was just "dad", someone I thought would never die and sometimes took for granted. It's still taking my brain time to process everything....I keep expecting to get a call or text from him telling me how much he loves me and when I will come see him. We didn't always get along but I know he always looked out for me, even when I didn't ask for it. Even while I am writing this post, I am trying to fight back tears. Everyone says not to have regrets, but I do. I regret not seeing him when I had the opportunity to. I regret not being there when he needed someone most. He was always very strict, unless you had four paws, but brutally fair and everything was black or white. There were no grey areas with Dad. He wasn’t perfect but he was honest, reliable, dependable and a man of strong principles and always had the courage of his convictions. He was traditional, conventional, careful, immensely private and family meant everything to him. He spent 25 or so years in the air force and it took him almost everywhere. He worked hard all his life to provide well for himself and his family and I think to begin with he found retirement difficult to adjust to. He was my hero and my first love and I am still devastated that he will never see me graduate college, get married, see his first grand children. It pains me that he will never see what I have made of myself. Everyday I am reminded that he is no longer here. I hope no matter what I do I make him proud. He will forever be in my heart and I will forever miss him.