For Dad, On Father's Day

One day I called my dad crying. For the second time, I had torn my ACL, a ligament in my knee that would require another surgery and months of rehab.

Somehow, I didn’t think this would interfere with my summer plans of working and playing sports. He disagreed.

I called him a dick. He was in Florida, taking one of few precious days off. Happy vacation, dad.

Relationships with dads aren’t always easy. The U.S. Census Bureau reports there are 70.1 million fathers in the country and 25.3 million of them have children younger than 18.

Fights, especially during the teenage years, can be as common as Friday night football games.

Others have rockier relationships and look on this day with indifference or bitterness. Some appreciate dads who aren’t their own, but others who have helped along the way.

And then there are those who will be talking to their fathers from a distance farther than time and space, hoping their messages reach across the divide.

A father is a tough job. Especially for the 1.8 million single fathers out there.

Dads go from being the caretaker, diaper changer and bike teacher to the check writer, insurance provider and once a week phone call. It’s a tough adjustment when their kids grow up to be real people shaped by time and change.

The constant drive for more freedom only makes dad want to hold on tighter.

They have to watch their kids go through disappointment, heartbreak and struggle, but are rewarded by a hug after a home run or a diploma after four years of hard work.

And the rewards are where all the impatience and frustration dissipates into a never-ending wall of support.

For me, that support has come in all forms. It’s been good advice when faced with a tough decision. It’s been comfort after a loss or a ride home after a long night. It’s been not just supporting me, his daughter, but my friends as well.

I know my dad can see parts of himself in me. We both love chocolate and bacon and would probably put both on anything given the chance.

I know seeing the sense of humor and stubborn attitude I got from him make him more proud than any gift I could ever give.

So on this Father’s Day, don’t just head out to the 8,111 men’s clothing stores, 16,010 hardware stores or 22,116 sporting goods stores across the country, but take a moment to stop and thank dad for giving you those traits, that support or a new convertible Camaro. It'll mean more to him than golf balls or a tie.