When I was 21, I wanted to open a restaurant.

On paper, it was a terrible idea.

I couldn’t even sign the lease myself. Restaurants fail all the time. I had no experience and no proof that any of it would work.

My dad helped co sign the lease anyway.

Not because he knew anything about restaurants.

He didn’t.

He simply believed in me.

Over the years, I’ve realized that’s kind of my dad’s superpower.

When I introduced him to Matt, my now husband, he didn’t see an American guy dating his Indian daughter. He saw someone I cared about, so he welcomed him into our family. Before long, Matt was sitting on my parents’ living room floor eating masala dosa and sambar like he’d always belonged there.

Years later, when Matt and I started showing up with cats, my dad welcomed them too. These days, Momo and Bindi more attention than me. 😁

Looking back, my dad has never really fallen in love with restaurants, or even all of my crazy ideas.

He’s fallen in love with the people I love. And the cats! 🐈

And that’s one of the greatest gifts a parent can give.