My dad was never one for big, flowery speeches or elaborate displays of affection.

But every time I left his house, he'd send me off with a full tank of gas and a quiet, "Wouldn't want you to get stuck." It wasn't just about the fuel; it was his always-there way of saying, "I've got your back, no matter where you're headed."

My dad's favorite Father's Day tradition is

spending the whole day in the backyard, not because he loves the family gathering, but because it's the one day a year he can use the lawn as an excuse to buy a new lawn mower.

My dad's ideal Father's Day gift isn't a new gadget or a fancy meal.

It's finding an unlabeled can of paint in the garage that *might* be the perfect match for the trim he painted seven years ago.

My dad's neighbors think he's a professional landscaper

but really he just has a lot of free time and a riding lawn mower