"All the way past the clouds" isn't quite far enough

Hi, Dad.

Remember that time I begged you

to let me ride on the (riding) lawn mower with you

and, of course, I always had bare feet...

you finally sat me on your lap

and told me to steer

"...but don't put your foot here because it will cut you."

and so I put my foot there without realizing

and it cut my big toe?

Well, my big toe still remembers.

And do you remember that recipe

for "Dad's Secret Milk"

that you used to make?

You finally taught me how to make it

when I was a teenager

and I laughed because it was so simple.

Well, I made "Secret Milk" earlier this week for the first time in years

and it was as delicious as I remember. (True story.)

And I bet you'll never forget

watching your two beautiful daughters

(we must have been 3-5 years old)

"swimming" in mud puddles on the driveway

and running naked through the field

because, even though you and Mom taught us better,

somehow we inherited wild spirits.

Well, yeah, you remember this because you remind me

ALL.THE.TIME. and we always laugh about it.

(By the way, you shouldn't tell Hub such stories

because he finds them particularly humorous and often tells our friends.)

I love our memories, Dad, and I know we'll make many more.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

I love you all the way past the clouds.