I tried to surprise my dad with a heartfelt message for Father's Day, starting with, "Dad, I'm feeling so grateful...".

Before I could finish, he smiled and said, "Hi Grateful, I'm Dad!"

I asked my dad what he wanted for Father's Day this year.

He said, 'An afternoon alone with the lawnmower, and no one questioning my stripe patterns.'

My dad's Father's Day tradition is

spending the whole day in the garage, not because he's working on a project, but because it's the one place where mom can't find him to give him a honey-do list.

Growing up, my dad wasn't big on mushy stuff; hugs were brief, and 'I love you' was often replaced with a nod.

But then I realized, every time he quietly fixed my bike, mowed the lawn without being asked, or just sat with me when I was down, he was speaking volumes.