A toast to an amazing Father...

As we all know Destine’ is an amazing woman. Jimmy and I also know how much she loves us and respects us. She recently called me from school and was asking questions about when I met Jimmy. She was asking me dates; when we first met, the actual date that they met. After checking my calendar (I knew the months but not specific dates for everything) I realized we met Oct 2000, which is when he started working at IBM. Our first time out was to Charlie Browns on Feb 8, 2001 but it was just as friends. Everyone from work was supposed to go but we were the only ones who showed. It was also the first time I met Kelly. She happened to stop in at the restaurant with her friends. Our first official date was a few weeks later March 7th, 2001. The very first time he met Destine’ was March 14, 2001. After gathering all this info I asked what do you need this for? Destine had a assignment in her public speaking class to write and give a special occasion speech. The subject that she picked was Jimmy. I teared up after the first line. She is an amazing daughter and he is an amazing father. I couldn't agree with her more and she got an A

A father’s love is not biological; it is so much more than that. A father is someone who teaches you lessons without making you feel ashamed and gives you a sense of protection. He is someone who shows compassion and cares, and who loves you unconditionally. We do not share the same DNA and he did not carry me home from the hospital, but he is here now. He has been solidly for the past 11 years. For those of you who know us, you know that we have never been good with all the emotional stuff but some things don’t really ever need to be said because you can feel them. I feel it all the time when I’m with my dad. Today I want to share with you some things you may not know about him and how amazing a man he really is.


There is so much to say but so little time. He has taught me many valuable life lessons even if he did not get to teach me all the traditional dad stuff. Like he may not have taught me how to ride a bike but he taught me that he is never allowed to lead the way on bike rides. He turns our simple family bike ride into a crazy mountain bike ride that resulted in me needing to get a mountain bike. He taught me it is no small task to coach an all-girls teenage soccer team, man he must really love me. I remember him coming home one night after practice asking my mom what was with all the crying and why did no one what to play soccer. He showed me what a bald man looked like, since on March 14, 2001, I might have run away from the door out of fear. Just because I don’t call him daddy doesn’t mean he isn’t every bit of a father that I ever wanted. Whenever I needed him he was there, whether it was at my flute recitals, coaching soccer, or helping me apply and tour colleges he was more than willing to take me with out any benefit to him, other than he was just being my dad.


Those are just a few of the many things he has done for me. Through the years I have also learned many things about him.


At times he is the most patient person I have ever met, but then again, he can be the most impatient. When he is hungry I would advise not talking to him but finding him food as quickly as possible; he only truly has one flaw. It is that he works too hard and too much. He creates these lists of things he needs to do that are impossible to complete. I know my mom knows what I am talking about. He never has any intention of asking for help and through his stubbornness never takes the help when it is offered. He never expects anything in return for anything he does. He is the most selfless person I know and he has taught me so much about life. It’s an honor to call him my father.


What I’ve really been trying to say is that there are really no words to describe how much it means to me that he accepted me as a daughter even though he never had to.


If I find someone, half as good a man as he is, I will be the second luckiest woman on the planet beside my mom. He is truly an inspiration, and I am so glad that he will continue to be in my life for many years to come.


So here’s to James B. Webb.

*posted with Destine's permission, of course.