It’s that time of year again, Father's Day, and boy do you make it difficult to find a gift for you. Thankfully, we're all pretty creative with our ideas. Yeah, you'll tell us not to spend any money on you, but we'll do it anyway because you deserve it and as you always say, “nobody listens to me.”

In the dictionary, there are several words where one might find your picture; words like workaholic, caring, stubborn, crazy, stressed, unique, and several others come to mind. Many people that know you would agree you’re truly one of a kind; there is no other highly skilled trained professional out there that clips three pins to his shirt, wears just about an entire toolbox on his belt, carries two phones, starts sentences that go eternally unfinished, keeps everything, or recycles everything. You’re like the father from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," who says Windex is the cure for everything, but with recycling.

You may feel like nobody ever listens to you, but I can guarantee you that’s not true. I’ve always loved listening to your stories and, although I may not always want to believe it, I know you’re right and that listening to your advice is the smart thing to do. I still want to write a collection of your stories eventually, you have some good ones. Who knows, it may just be a best seller.

They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. I'm pretty sure more than one person would agree that's definitely the case here; I catch myself saying things I’ve heard you say, find myself with some of the same funny mannerisms you have, and doing some of the things I know you’ve done. It’s a little freaky. Maybe it’s genetics, maybe it’s a consequence of being your little shadow for all that time. Who knows?

I don’t know if you know this or not, but you do deserve this day, more than one actually. Nobody else I know works as hard all year round and puts up with insane amounts of b.s. in the process; you never complain or bat an eye, you just do it, even if it means working in the freezing cold or being on your feet for eighteen hours. There were times that meant you had to miss dance recitals, band performances, family get togethers, or what have you. But we know you were always doing what you had to to take care of us.

Father’s Day is the only day dedicated solely to fathers but it certainly isn’t the only day I’m thankful to have you as my father. You’ve taught me countless things in life and I’m sure I still have much to learn. You’re also one of the only people that’s been around since day one to keep me somewhat sane and pushing forward through the hard times we shared as a family. Somehow, you managed to hold it together and be both a mother and a father to Mary Jo and me when we weren’t the most lovable children in the world. I’ll never know how you did it and kept up with your own business.

You raised us to know respect, kindness, family, openness, strength, and so much more. You’ve always shown us love and how to love new additions to our little family. Without realizing it, you helped us see how guys we date should treat us. You’re the definition of a gentleman; pretty sure there’s a picture of you next to that one in the dictionary, too. You have the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever known; you always go out of your way and do what you can for family and friends. You gave me confidence to be myself and not follow the crowd and you’ve always supported me in everything I’ve done. When I call, you listen to me fuss about whatever is bothering me or we just chat for a little while. More often than not, I wish I could sit down and chat with you in person instead of over the phone. But what’s really important is simply being able to hear your voice.

Thank you for all those things and more. Thanks for passing all those things down the line, too; they come in handy pretty often. Most of all, thank you for showing us what it means to be truly loved. That’ll one in handy one of these days. Thank you for being the bees knees of dads and the best one this side of the nut house.