Pramila Jayapal Instagram – My father loved to dance. I remember when I was little, I would stand on his toes and let him lead me around the room at one of the many parties he and my mother would throw. He loved to sing, too — even though his parents wouldn’t let him learn singing as a boy because it was something only meant for girls in their minds. It didn’t stop him — he would sing to my mother, call my sister and me for our birthdays and sing Stevie Wonder’s “I just called to say I love you.” We’d roll our eyes and beg him to stop, but we loved it.
Today, he is 92 and sometimes doesn’t know our names as he struggles with dementia. But when we play that song, he lights up and starts singing. He gave us a lifetime of memories — not all good, not all perfect, some really hard. But also so much love, sacrifice, and belief that his daughters could do anything. Thank you, Papa. Just calling to say I love you!
To all the fathers out there who have fathered in big and small ways—thank you. It’s a day to thank you for a lifetime of love. ❤️ | Posted on 16/Jun/2024 20:39:00
