Happy Fathers Day to all the dads out there. May your day be filled with love, family gatherings, fun and gratefulness for all you do for your family!

Today is always kind of bittersweet for my family. My dad died in 1973 when he was only 43 years old. He never lived to see 4 of his 5 daughters grow up and see their accomplishments, he never saw his grandchildren born. I miss the quiet hours we spent when I was a teen, playing chess on the back patio, taking long twilight walks listening to the birds and pondering life's questions. Those are the memories of him that I cherish.

My mom remarried over ten years after he died. My step-dad is the greatest, he's the best stepdad ever ... and not to take away from his gift to us .. but there are times I just miss my own dad... the man I look like (sometimes scarily so), the man from which my love of journalism springs. My mom and stepdad just embarked on a cruise ... a gift from my stepdad's sister to her brother for Father's Day. The four of them (mom, stepdad, his sister and her husband) are currently cruising the eastern Caribbean.

My oldest daughter's father died when she was three, my two middle daughters' father opted out of their lives when they were toddlers. Only Justin sees his father with any regularity. He will be leaving shortly to spend a couple of hours with his dad (amount of time dad's choice).

As a quick aside, I got (to me) the ultimate complement this morning. A friend called to wish me a Happy Fathers Day (as she said ... because I am a single mom and therefore have to fill both roles on a regular basis.)

So ... Happy Fathers Day to all who fit the role ... to my friends, my family (father, grandfathers, forefathers) ... may the day shine for you!