Growing up I lived with my mother to begin with, not ideal to say the least, drugs and crime were a regular occurrence, My father spent years and several thousands of dollars taking her to court,fighting to win custody of me. That became a reality when I turned 7 yrs old. To say that he was a good father wouldn't even begin to describe the life that he worked to provide me. Safety, normalcy,and structure. Family values, morality, and LOVE, Every bit of goodness in me I learned from him and my step mother. I always thought he was so strict with me, today I'm thankful for that. My dad has always been there encouraging me, believing in me, guiding me, He is and always has been an amazing father, someone to look up to, a good human being to say the least. He loved his family and always put us first. Just over 10 years ago my step mother decided she needed to have freedom and divorced him, it was devastating for him, understandably he moved back to South Carolina where he was from where I was born , I have not seen him in person since. Phone calls even video chat does not replace being able to hug him, take a walk with him, have a meal with him or attend a Sunday service at church with him. As much as I try I am just not able to find the "extra"money to go see him. I have 2 jobs and live in the Bay area, I am just barely able to make my bills as it is sometimes. And I'm good with that . Except that I miss him so much.. I really just want to hug my dad