The term father can be defined in millions of different categories. My father was a friend, mentor, coach, teacher, leader, comforter, cheerleader, and daddy. His smile was contagious and his sense of humor was unforgiving. He had a presence about him that drew people toward him. My dad was like a magnet. He had the ability to make people feel safe and secure while merely just being there. He was diagnosed with CMT about 3 years ago. His illness affect him so strongly, however the glimpses of my dad is what I will miss the most. The fact that his facial features during any given situation could say it all. The fact that his pride for his family was stronger than any storm or person. The fact that his laugh was like winning the lottery and his jokes were never ceasing. My dad instilled in me at a young age that people will fall; people will hurt and feel pain but inside of my father I saw strength and honor. His heart was so big that it overflowed into the lives around him. Albert Camus once wrote, "Blessed are the hearts that bend for they shall never be broken," and thats exactly what my dad did. He bent his heart around everyone lives and held on. That bend, that grip will never be released from our lives because he will never be just a memory. My dad was real. He lived. And now, he will always live.