Happy Father's Day!

For me, today would be like any other day, except for one thing: It's Father's Day.

Normal people spend that time together with their dads, eating grilled food and purchasing power tools or godawful ties for dads to wear. Either that or they give quick calls to the paternal half, checking up on how they are and spreading good wishes.

It's already common knowledge that I don't have a dad anymore. I'm halfway to orphanhood (and knowing my mom and grandma's lineage, she's not dropping dead anytime soon. Hell, I suspect my grandmother will live until Darth Vader comes and offs her with his light-saber -- only to have her disappear like Obi-Wan). But we never really celebrated Father's Day.

I think the biggest stuff was the cards and waiting in line at the McDonald's drive through for an hour or so as we got as many free breakfasts from them as possible for Father's Day.

But that's not to diminish the importance of my dad. He just didn't like to show sentimentality. If I bought him a tie, I'm sure I'd hear about how it was too expensive. When I look back on my years before leaving for college, he did teach me a lot -- how to make sauteed mushrooms, creating the perfect grilled cheese sandwich, how to do a figure-four lock, how to appreciate musicals and the importance of double-coupon days at Kohls.

I guess, on this day, I'd like to give props to my pop. Happy Father's Day -- I never said it much, but I hope you know when I said it, I meant it.