Share and tell the people who are most important in your life how much you love them-Happy 80th Birthday Daddy

My dad turns 80 years old today.

Admittedly, it feels a little odd to have an 80-year-old father, but I’ve always felt a little different.

Growing up as the oldest daughter of Jay Broadwell, I witnessed and experienced childhood different than those around me.

My Dad always made sure that I knew how much he loved me, both in the way he held me and how he would always tell me he loved me.

My Dad spent his days talking with families and individuals about their thoughts and feelings, and I knew that my dad’s job and who he was, was different.

After long days of focus and listening to his clients, my dad was home a little after 5 and would get down on the floor to play ‘pony girl’ and board games with me and my siblings and call me pumpkin, which he still does today.

I’m blessed that I have always been able to feel my dad’s love, his interest, and how much he just liked me for me my whole life.

He did all of this for me and my 2 siblings, both with his amazing wife/my wonderful mother Carol and afterwards, when my mom passed right before I turned 13 years old.

What I learned from my Dad is the power of being intentional, being present and not just telling but also showing how to love.

Thanks, Dad, for all that you are and all that you gave us.

Happy Birthday and I love you.

**Below is the speech/toast I gave him at his suprise 80th Birthday in front of family/friends**

“Before I invite others to share stories about Walter Jay      – I want to share that You Dad (pause) have and will always be the one I look up to & the one I have learned so much from. I have always been so much like you…we have the same laugh, sense of humor, calm demeanor, and a curiosity about people. I have always been proud of who I am and what I do and I’m so grateful for all the talks we have had over the years while I was in grad school and my first few jobs – growing up with you as a dad has made me the person I am today. Thank you, Daddy. And speaking of growing up.…I know Mom is so proud of you, the life you have lived and how you continued to raise and love Jarrett, myself and Natalie. This is what I will remember most Dad. Not just how full of life you are, how loving you are to everyone you meet (pause) but how when life becomes unfair, when the most tragic loss happens, and you lose your best friend…. you continued on…being the man we all know and love and held us closer and loved deeper. How lucky am I to call you Dad and how lucky are all of us here and elsewhere to be able to celebrate the amazing human you are! Let’s all raise our glasses to my Dad, my hero and our Jay. We love you and Happy 80th Birthday!”