Living My Life to Honor Yours
A Father's Day Tribute
This article is a brave contribution by Brianna Cerrone.
This August will mark three years since my father died—one week before his 60th birthday. His passing was quick and unexpected, taking us completely by surprise. The birthday party we had planned for him turned into a celebration of his life.
My dad was the best person I’ve ever met. He was the epitome of hardworking, resilient, and strong, all while having a soft, caring, and laid-back demeanor.
His sense of adventure was so clear. He worked hard so he could play hard, and he taught me to do the same. He grew up lower class and had to work and earn everything for himself.
When he did get a break from work, he loved to travel with his buddies to surf in places like Puerto Rico, Mexico, Costa Rica, and El Salvador. He was an exceptional storyteller, and I remember lighting up every time he would return as I listened to his adventure stories.
Although he was a simple, blue-collar working man with nothing but a high school diploma, he didn’t let that define him. He experienced life and learned more than he might have with a college education. For over two decades, he worked as a painter at multiple casinos across Atlantic City, New Jersey. My dad was the type of guy who could spark up a conversation with just about anyone. He was a compassionate soul who wanted to learn about people, whether it be their culture, language, food, politics, sports, history, or current events—the list goes on. His work allowed him to interact with a diverse group of people, which is what he loved most.
He passed down his experience and mastered surfing, skateboarding, snowboarding—you name it, he would find a way to learn it.
When my dad passed, I promised myself I would honor him by learning how to surf. Last Father’s Day, I did just that. I signed up for surfing lessons in Ocean City, New Jersey, with his board tucked under my arm. It couldn’t have been a more perfect day to catch a wave; it’s like Dad was sending me the best waves to learn on. I’ve yet to master it, but I am my father's daughter, and I know I will master it in time.
In 2015, my parents and a few other family members took a trip to California, road-tripping from San Francisco down Route 1 to Los Angeles. One morning, my dad and I left our hotel in Pacifica and hiked up a nearby cliff. From the top of the cliff, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, you could see multiple whales breaching the water. The two of us sat there in awe, and to this day, it remains one of my most memorable travel experiences.
Below is one of my favorite pictures because my dad took it that moment.
Our California trip meant a lot to me for many reasons. Naturally, I share the same taste in music as my dad. One of our favorite bands being the Red Hot Chili Peppers, whose music is so often based around the state of California. California is also known for its world-renowned surfing and beautiful ocean views, two things my dad absolutely cherished.
Just a few weeks after my dad passed, I took a trip to California. Driving through Rancho Palos Verdes, I stumbled upon this charming lighthouse placed right on a clifftop along the Pacific coast. As the sun began to set, whales and dolphins breached the water in the distance. My dad’s presence was so strong, and it brought me back to our time on the cliff in Pacifica.
My favorite quote is from a Mel Robbins' book titled The 5 Second Rule that says, “You have been assigned this mountain so that you can show others it can be moved,” and that is how grief feels to me. It taught me that you can lose the most meaningful person in your life, yet still wake up each day continuing to live your own life. I live to honor the life my dad no longer has.
A friend of mine gifted me a surfboard charm necklace with my dad’s initials on it, and I wear it every day. I also got a tattoo on my leg with the quote “always with you” below it. It’s a scene of mountains, the ocean, a sunset, with a palm tree, a bonfire, and a little van with a surfboard, all of the things my father and I both loved. The scene is set on top of a surfboard, symbolizing that my father is supporting me and is always with me through my travels.
While he might not be here in the physical world with us, his spirit guides me each day. I feel safe when I travel because I know he’s right there alongside me. When I ask for his strength and support, I receive it.
I am so grateful for the time my dad and I had together. Even though it was taken far too soon, my father’s passing taught me many things. One in particular is the importance of capturing moments. I’ve always loved taking photos and videos, but now it's more intentional for me. When he passed, the photos and videos I took of him were all I had left. Being able to pull up a photo and see his smile or watch a video and hear his laugh centers me on why I’m doing this, why I’m here—they are a permanent preservation of so many memories.
Grief teaches you to be grateful for everything. It taught me how short and fragile life can be, and to not take a single second for granted. We only have so much time here to walk this earth, and we have to take advantage of every free minute. It’s why I spend so much of my time traveling. The world is wide, and I want to see as much of it as I can while I have the chance. And as another Father's Day approaches, I know I'm living out his adventurous spirit, with him right by my side for all of it.