Dearest Dad, I hope you don't mind me calling you *Dad*. I know we never had the chance to meet in person, but you know who I am. I also know that you can hear me, and feel what is in my heart, now that you are Dan's special Angel in Heaven. This song I am playing, is dedicated to you. I know it's not the kind of music you once listened to, but it's a beautiful song, and the words come from my heart. I don't know if Dan has ever heard it before, but I know this is the way that he has always felt, since you've gone away to Heaven. I also know that Dan is waiting for the "One Sweet Day" when he can be reunited with you. But before I go, there is something else that I want to tell you. I LOVE YOU, Dad, even though I never actually knew you in person. I can feel your presence around us, and it is such a peaceful & warm feeling when you fill the room with your love. Dan always speaks of you, and he loves you soooo much. He is soooo proud that you are the one that God chose to be his dad. You have given him so many sweet and loving memories that he will ALWAYS cherrish in his heart and soul. Dad, i want to thank for that, and a few other things. I also want to thank for helping me to show Dan, that you will ALWAYS be with him, even though he can't see or hear you in the physical sense. Every year during this time, he would be so depressed, and cry his heart out. But this year, he was able to SMILE. Dan, his friends, & I gave him a little bit of help when he created his special dedication to you, but the whole idea of the way he wanted it was HIS idea. Dad, I know you are so very proud of him, and so am I. I also want to thank you for raising such a fine son. He is truly a wonderful man, and I love him more than life itself. As you already know, I call him my Prince Charming. I only wish that Dan, could realize himself, what a wonderful man he really is. But he's had many things go wrong in his life. I'm trying to help him realize that things will get better. I think he has a really good chance to, now that he knows you are always with him. Dad, if it wasn't for you, I never would have met the man of my dreams. You have done sooo much for me, even though I have never met you. I know that Dan and I have had many hard times together, but I love him now, more than ever, and my love for him grows more with every passing day. The only part of loving him that scares me the most , is knowing that he could leave me anytime, for tomorrow is not promised for either one of us. If I were to come home from work, or wake up one morning discovering that he went to Heaven, I would miss him sooo much that I would probably feel like my whole world ended. That is why I stress to Dan, and all of my friends, to ALWAYS tell the ones that are in their heart, just what they feel in their hearts, for those special people. Dan never got to tell you everything he wanted to say before you went home to God. I never got to tell my Papa Panko that either, because I didn't get to see him right before he died. I was already out here in Nebraska. But I want you to know, that as much as I miss my daughter, and my family/friends, I won't ever regret moving out to Nebraska with Dan. Alot of wonderful things have happened to me out here, and I do believe that you and my dear sweet brother, Richie, gave God a little helping hand in that. I just pray to God that I will see my daughter again, before it's too late for either one of us. I do know that God does things for a special reason, so I do trust in HIM. But anyway, Dad, I just wanted you to know these feelings that I have. Oh, and one more thing. I don't know how in the world you accomplished this, but please believe me when I say that this is a miracle in itself. You actually got me to like some of your favorite songs! No offense, but this Joisey girl always loved mainly 80s ROCK. How you actually got me to like some old country is truly a MIRACLE in my eyes....lol. Ok Dad, I really hope you like this song. Like I said, it's not the kind of music that was to your liking, but it's the feelings in it that makes it MEANINGFUL. With LOVE & SINCERITY, Your future daughter-in-law,

Patti One Sweet Day Sorry I never told you All I wanted to say And now it's too late to hold you 'Cause you've flown away So far away Never had I imagined Living without your smile Feeling and knowing you hear me It keeps me alive Alive And I know you're shining down on me from Heaven Like so many friends we've lost along the way And I know eventually we'll be together One sweet day I'm sorry, I never showed you Assumed you'd always be there I took your presence for granted But I always cared And I miss the love we shared And I know you're shining down on me from Heaven Like so many friends we've lost along the way And I know eventually we'll be together One sweet day Although the sun will never shine the same I'll always look to a brighter day Lord I know when I lay me down to sleep You will always listen as I pray And I know you're shining down on me from Heaven Like so many friends we've lost along the way And I know eventually we'll be together One sweet day And I know you're shining down on me from Heaven Like so many friends we've lost along the way And I know eventually we'll be together One sweet day Sorry I never told you All I wanted to say