The Secret Stash of Love Letters

Gifts I leave Behind

photo by author

For the past five years or so I travel across the country to go visit my parents. This yearly trip of mine is something they look forward to, as do I.

It’s hard to live so far away from family. I can’t be there as much as I would like. When something happens, I can’t just leave work, jump in my car and head over. Speaking to my dad on the phone, when I can hear the loneliness that fills him, I can’t be there to give him a hug.

So what can I do?

During my trips I do whatever I can to make him laugh. I help out around the house as much as I can so he can relax. But there is something else I do that no one else does.

I leave a secret stash of love behind.

Before I leave, I go throughout the house and leave notes tucked in random spots. Some are silly jokes that will make him chuckle, others tell him thank you for being such an awesome dad. I try to leave them in spots where throughout the year he will come across them when least expecting to.

photo by author

He has never mentioned them, yet I know he finds them. I can picture his smile and hear his chuckle in my mind.

This is my way of saying I love you and I’m with you even when I’m not physically there.

I look forward to not only writing these notes, but also stashing them. It’s almost like going on a reverse treasure hunt where only I know where they will be.

Perhaps it’s a bit selfish of me since it makes me so happy to do this, but I hope and pray that it also makes him happy.