Dear Dory, Thank you.

Dear Dory,

I just want to take the time to thank you for all the smiles and laughs you have brought to me over the years. When I first met you, back in 2003, I was instantly captivated by your outgoing personality. Though you may struggle sometimes with your short term memory loss, you make sure it does not stop you from being with your friends and achieving your goals. It may have taken you thirteen years to find your family (though you may not remember being separated from them for that long), but your persevered and finally achieved your goal.

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Dory, you believe in yourself, and even when you get stuck in a situation you can't remember being in, you keep doing your best until you remember that you have the courage and tenacity to continue. Your exceptional self-confidence is something I wish everyone in the world had, but hopefully as they watch you travel through the ocean people gain a bit more confidence in themselves as well.

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You also bring out the best in your friends, which only highlights what a great friend you are to them. As Marlin was struggling to overcome his fears you pushed "Mr. Grumpy Gills" to face sharks, jellyfish and the entire ocean just to find his son. You never doubted in his ability to succeed. With your new friend, Hank, you pushed him outside of his comfort zone to show him a world he never would have seen without you. Only a true friend would challenge her own friends to help them become something more than they ever thought they could be. Everything you do to help your friends you do selflessly, never once asking for anything in return. This is the mark of an one-of-a-kind, life long friend.

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Dory, your courage, self-confidence and willingness to "Just keep swimming," even when times are tough, have helped me keep a positive outlook on life and make me smile every day. Thank you for the joy and laughs you have brought to myself and others over the years, and may you always keep swimming.