Happy Father's Day

Today, we delight in a Red Rider Wagon full of things that make me dream of fathers--shiny items and rusty ones, new technology and tarnished flea market finds:

Father of The Bride (the "old" version, on AMC this afternoon, where Spencer Tracy gets drunk and passes out while meeting his daughter's future in-laws);

Napoleon Dynamite sticky notes from Target (a gift for my boys' dad, who taught Mac how to pump on a swing yesterday, and treated everyone to donuts at the bagel shop downtown this morning; now that I think about it, Napoleon's father was suspiciously absent throughout this film--hmmmmm?);

Ferris Bueller's Day Off (also on cable this afternoon, which my dad humored me by watching when I was 15, and where Cameron has to explain to his dad that he crashed the man's expensive sport's car through the glass wall of the garage);

Father's Day dinner in the backyard instead of the original plan to eat out (spinach salad, stuffed portobello mushroom caps, steamed broccoli, brown sugar carrots, baby potatoes with rosemary, steaks and hamburgers on the grill--yum!);

Lou's cologne (Paul Sebastian, which makes me passionate-crazy; cologne after a shower always reminds me of the Old Spice my dad used to wear when I was a kid and the Old Spice commercial from the 1970s where the sailor arrives home from a jaunt at sea to a wife and son--both wearing awesome fisherman knit sweaters--who practically tackle him);

Gerbera Daisies that Lou grew outside, in terra cotta pots (a few of which have been cut and now adorn the table);

the father in my Sims 2 legacy challenge game who helps his kids with homework but carries on and weeps after changng the baby's diaper;

and this poem, with its references to motorcycles, which I sent to my dad ("Thanks, Kid, for the 'saying.'"):

The rough road of life,
he travels fierce on gold wings,
family in his pocket.

I've been blessed in the "father" department. My dad is a good man, sometimes impatient, often stubborn, but always full of love. My husband is an amazing dad who relishes every second (alright, most of them) with our boys.

Happy Father's Day!