Fatherlove - Keeping Fathers Connected

2001 Father of the Year Essay Contest

RICKY STILWELL
SECOND PLACE WINNER
SEVENTH GRADE
School: Holy Family School
Teacher: Ms. Nancy McDonnell
City: Woodinville

My dad’s name is Mike Spring. He is 32 years old. He has blond hair and blue eyes. He is very tall. He brought me my first video game. My first video game was Sonic the Hedgehog for Segar Genesis. We would play video games together. I like to play video games very much. I live with my grandparents on my mom’s side of the family.

I would sometimes go to my dad’s house when I was younger. He had a pet kitten named Popeye. My dad hand his father built the house that they lived in. When I was 8 years old, my dad moved and we lost contact. He had stopped calling me and his phone number changed when he moved.

When I was 12 years old, I was getting to the point where I missed him. One night, I spent the night at my mom’s house. The next day I woke up earlier than my mom. I looked in the phone book and found my great-grandma’s phone number and my great uncle’s phone number. I called my great uncle and he gave me my other grandma’s phone number. I called my other grandma and she gave me my dad’s phone number. I called my dad and he was surprised. He said he was sorry that he didn’t call me. He said that he forgot to call when he was suppose to and he felt too guilty to call.

Now I go to my dad’s house on the weekends and have fun with him. We play video games and go out to places. A few weeks ago, I spent the night at my dad’s house for the very first time in my life. My dad and I are closer now.