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STELLASEL!S

@stellaroseselis

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Ok, the day has passed. Stella is an adult now, and I’m still here. I get to have all my memories and, god willing, I get to watch this next part not only as a fan but also a parent. I’ve done this once already. I remember crying like a baby when we dropped Sam off at college. I can’t even imagine the blubbering mess I will be letting go of my baby girl. She’s always going to be my baby girl. And I’m always going to be her daddy. Nicole’s dad is a great example of remaining a dad throughout life. Of course, I won’t have the “fix it” skills that Chuck has. Man, it’s so fun listening to those two talk about fixing shit on the FaceTime. Nicole will play the role of Chuck with Stella, for sure, but I’ll have my role, too. And it never stops. Nicole’s parents are still parenting to this day. But it’s still sad that the next thing that will happen is that she’ll finish high school and move away. I’ll miss not getting her balloons on her birthday. I’ll miss her bellicose laugh. I’m not sure bellicose is the right word, but it’s big and powerful and comes from a place deep down inside and it’s genuine and booming and could probably start a war. I love how she says out loud, “I love my life.” I love that she loves her siblings more than anything on Earth, even candy and ice cream. I love that she’s always been exactly who she is. I love that she could give two fucks what anyone else thinks. (She had to have got that from her mother. Or maybe mine.) I love that she loves design and fashion. I love that she’s always gone to bed on her own and that she makes her bed every morning. I love that she doesn’t take things for granted and that she takes such good care of what she’s lucky enough to have. God, I could go on and on. I told my friend Colleen that she and our friend Amy prepared me for Stella. Colleen and Amy treated me like shit sometimes. It bugged the hell out of me, but I knew deep down they really loved me. (Amy might disagree.) But sometimes Stella just isn’t in the mood for me. She’s amazing at brushing me off with the simplest of, “Bruh…” And I don’t take it personally. I just wait my turn, which I’m good with because I know she’ll never make me wait too long.

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We all know by now that I am a man of many words, but on this very special day, I’m going to let my pictures do the talking. My Stella Boo is 18 today and every time I try to write I just start crying. Let me just say that I love her dearly. I think she might be the most filmed and photographed person on the planet. Here is a mere smattering. I love you baby girl. And as much as it pains me to say it, welcome to adulthood.

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July. Great friends. Old and newbies. PDX. NYC. Sandpoint, Idaho. Ba da da da da da da, feelin’ groovy.

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Trigger warning! Stella’s LAST first day of school picture. As she departed from this final pose she said, “I love you, too.” My eyes welled up thinking back on all these snaps. Damn, what a journey. Swipe left if you’d like to see a proud daddy’s dedication to his craft. Might want to grab some tissue.

Junior.

Sophomore.

Freshman.

8th.

7th.

6th. (Covid)

5th.

4th.

3rd.

2nd.

1st.

Absolutely dreading Kindergarten.

And for old times sake, the best first school picture EVER. We love you so much @stellaroseselis and are so so soooooooo proud of you. Thank you for suffering me and “my craft”.

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All smiles 😊

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Bout nine years ago I did a prom video for @samselis_ . I wondered where all the time went. At the time my Stella Boo was 7. Suddenly, she’s off to her own prom…in her mama’s prom dress, no less! I love my life. Just wish it would slow down. #godspeed

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We in this video for Brian were on a monthlong text chain together. We anxiously waited for updates everyday. Pre-op. Surgery. And post-op. The best text was when we got word that Brian survived the surgery. But it would be another 18 hours or so before they woke him up. We received a text that Brian’s first words as he came back to consciousness were, “Good news, I’m not dead.” As @sweet_ggh says in the video, it was the best news. And not so long after he awoke, he survived the double overtime thriller between his Ducks and Penn St, which my brother Sam recounts as the best phone call of his life. We are a lucky lot to live in the community we do, in this city on fire filled with people who care so much. We all owe such a huge debt of gratitude to healthcare workers, and in this case to the staff of Cardiology B at St. Vincent Hospital. What an amazing group. Godsends, all.

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