My father was my hero， all throughout my life. The father of eight children， he saw his share of strife①. When I was very little， he appeared to be so large. In my eyes he could do anything， we all knew he was in charge. He was a man of great strength both physically and in mind， but in him there was a gentleness， he found ways to be outgoing② and kind. Many days of childhood were greeted with a kiss， and songs to me as I awoke， those days I surely miss. He made me feel so special， “Miss America” he would sing. I knew I had my father’s love. It gave me courage to do most anything. From him I learned to stand up tall， to be proud of who I am.
Strength and determination were the qualities of this fine man. As the years of his life dwindled③ down， that strength kept him alive. Plus the unfailing determination to help my ailing mother have the care she needed to survive. He loved her and his children， so much he gave up years of his life caring for this woman， his soulmate， his wife. Day and night he struggled for years with her disease. A lesser man would have been brought down to his knees. With illnesses of his own， he still stood by her side caring for her and loving her until the day she died.
Twenty days later his own time was at an end. I lost my hero， my father， a man who was my friend. A few years have passed， and life just isn’t the same. But as Father’s Day approaches， I will celebrate his name. With prayers to him and God above to stay by my side， to watch over me and guide me， to look down on me with pride. For I am my father’s daughter， one day we will meet again. But until then I will remember， and the love will never end.
① strifen. 冲突，争斗，倾轧
② outgoingadj. 直率的
③ dwindlev. 渐渐减少，变小
父亲是我的英雄
我父亲是我的英雄，在我一生从未改变。身为八个孩子的父亲，他清楚自己重任在肩。当我还是小不点，他显得是如此高大。在我眼中他无所不能，我们知道是他当家。他的身心都蕴藏着无穷的力量，但他也温柔，能让人感到他友善直爽。儿时的许多早晨，我都是被他的亲吻和歌声唤醒，那些日子令我怀念万分。他让我感觉如此特殊，“美国小姐”他轻声吟唱。我知道我拥有父亲的爱。这爱给我勇气去做，去闯。从他那里我学会昂首挺胸，为自己骄傲。
力量和决心将这位优秀的男人打造。虽然日渐衰老，但他的力量使他活力依然。还有他坚定的决心，要让我体弱多病的母亲得到她需要的关爱继续留在人寰。他爱她，他爱孩子，于是他把生命中的许多春秋投入照顾这位女人，他的妻子，他心心相印的伴侣。多少年的日日夜夜他奋力抗争，为了她的疾病。换个不太坚强的男人恐怕早已认命。虽然他有自己的病痛，但他一直守在她的身边，关照她，爱她，直到她永远合上了眼。
二十天后他的生命也走到尽头。我失去了我的英雄，我的父亲，我的朋友。几年过去了，生活已是另一番风景。但随着父亲节的来临，我要颂扬他的美名。祈祷他和在天的上帝能陪伴我，看护我，引导我，自豪地俯视我。因为我是我父亲的女儿，总有一天我们会重逢。但在此以前我会怀念他，会永远爱他。
