Celebrating the joys of fatherhood

My dad is the best dad ever! Not only is he handsome, funny, sweet and

clever, but he is also so kind and caring. Now that my husband and I have

moved to Sacramento, we don’t get to see our parents as much as we would

both like, and that really makes it tougher than ever to leave when we do

drive down for a visit.

However, when we are down, my dad and I still maintain our special

tradition -- roller-blading up and down the boardwalk and getting a

popsicle in mid-roll. We have been doing that particular tradition for a

couple of years now, and it has become something that I really treasure!

We talk and laugh and then sometimes we have these really “deep”

discussions about all sorts of things.

I am so proud of my dad. He is the greatest father that anyone could

ever hope for, and on top of that, he is an outstanding businessman. I

wish that everyone, sometime in their lives, could have an opportunity to

meet and hang out with my dad because there is no one out there like him

anywhere!

I think my dad is pretty cool, and above all, I am so happy to be his

daughter and to be the one to tell him that in January 2001, he is going

to be a grandpa for the very first time -- surprise! I love you, dad!!

CARRIE W. ANDERSON

As a young man, my dad emigrated from Norway after World War I with

only a fifth-grade education. However, he always had a good job and took

care of his family even during the terrible depression of the ‘30s. He

taught me many practical lessons, not the least of which was to protect

and treasure any valuable possessions you had because they were often

hard to come by.

He lent me his car one evening when I was in my late teens to go to a

party. On the way home, I took a curve too fast in the rain. I skidded

off the road and the car rolled down an embankment. I crawled out OK, but

the car was wrecked.

A passerby drove me home, and I dreaded telling my dad I’d wrecked his

car. I feared a blistering diatribe on what I’d done, but his first words

were was I OK. When I said yes, all he said, with tears in his eyes, was

“Tak Gud,” Norwegian for”Thank God.” I still get a lump in my throat when

I think about it and realized how much he loved me.

What a moment and terrific lesson. As a consequence, in treasuring my

own kids, I’ve always cut them slack -- maybe too much at times -- but

I’m sure it helped make me a better father down the line.

KEN KVAMMEN

We want to wish our dad a happy Father’s Day. We also want to wish him

a happy birthday for tomorrow. Our dad is great because he helps us out

with homework, never yells at us (too much) and plays all kinds of sports

with us. He even coaches our teams.

We love that he helps tuck us in after he gives us crazy taxi rides to

our beds. We love our dad most of all because he loves being with us as

much as we love being with him.

Our family is going to have a great Father’s Day as long as we spend

it together.

R.J. AND CASSIE D’CRUZ

Jerry Marroquin is a wonderful father and delights daily in our

daughter Amber’s accomplishments. She is too young to adequately express

her love for her daddy, but it is ever so evident when she hears him walk

in in the door and she squeals “Daddy’s home! Daddy’s home!”

One of the most important things Jerry does as a father is he loves

and respects me, his wife, so much. Through this, he is showing his

daughter what a healthy marriage is about. He is a great dad!

LAURA MARROQUIN

My dad’s name is Dave McConnell. I wanted to give my dad a special

gift for Father’s Day. Then I thought what better gift than one from the

heart. I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful dad. He always puts his

family’s needs before his own.

Growing up, my dad and I were like best friends. We would play sports

together, and he would always take me shopping. I feel like the most

fortunate girl in the world. even though I am grown up now and have

responsibilities of my own, I will always be “Daddy’s little girl.” I

love you, dad.

KATIE MCCONNELL

* EDITOR’S NOTE: The following letters were submitted by Pat

McLaughlin’s third-grade class at Mariner’s Elementary School in Newport

Beach.

A is for an absolutely wonderful dad.

B is for best.

C is for caring.

D is for delightful.

E is for excitement.

F is for fun.

G is for a great dad.

H is for happy all the time.

I is for important.

J is for just right.

K is for Ken.

L is for laughter for me and and for him.

M is for music that he loves to listen to.

N is for never too harsh.

O is for outstanding.

P is for a perfect dad.

Q is for quiet.

R is for respect.

S is for super special.

T is for terrific.

U is for upon us in our house.

V is not for vampire.

W is for wonderful.

X is for xcellent.

Y is for “yay!” at my soccer games.

Z is for zoom to me!.

I love my dad!!

ELIZABETH HAEGER

My Dad (a poem)

Loving

Understanding

Interesting

Special

Marvelous

Plays along

Unique

Nice

Cool

Exists

Lasting

ROBERT PINCEL

My Father (a poem)

Fantastic

Awesome

Tall

Hero

Excellent

Rocks

MARSHALL WILKINSON

I think my dad is special. He’s special because he takes my brother

and I out to breakfast on Saturday. He’s also special because he gets me

stuff. He also takes me to lazertag at Palace Park. When we are at Palace

Park, we also go go-cart riding. I love my dad!!

MORGAN MOODY

My dad is a hero! My dad is a hero because he kills spiders. He makes

my brother go away when he bothers me. When I was stuck, my dad helped

me. My dad should be the next super hero!

If I were to to fall off a tall mountain and my dad was a super hero,

he would save me. I think my dad was nice when he was my age. I know if I

was in danger, he would rescue me.

The real reason my dad is a hero is because he loves me, and that is

all he needs to be a hero. I love my dad!

LEXY OLSON

A my dad is amazing.

B my dad is brave.

C my dad is caring.

D my dad is daring.

E my dad is enjoyable.

F my dad is fun.

G my dad is great.

H my dad is happy.

I think my dad is special to me.

J my dad can juggle and his name is Jaime Tizon.

K my dad is a king to me.

L my dad likes a lot of things.

M my dad is a man.

N my dad is nice.

O my dad likes the ocean.

P my dad plays with me.

Q my dad is quiet.

R my dad runs.

S my dad sleeps.

T my dad is tall.

U my dad is understanding.

V my dad plays the violin.

W my dad wins.

X my dad is extreme.

Y my dad yawns.

Z my dad zips around.

I like my dad. He is a very fun person to be with.

JIMMY TIZON

My dad is a hero to me because he loves me very much. He’s patient

with my brothers and me. My dad makes my family laugh with his jokes. He

makes my system happy when I’m sad. My dad loves me very much, and I love

him!

MEREDITH

My dad is a hero because he helps me feel better when I’m sad. When my

dad and I go on father-daughter things with other people, I think he’s

the best out of all of them because he is nice, funny and a friend to

everyone.

My dad also taught me how to spell things and tell me words that I

need to know that no one else taught me. For instance, my dad taught me

how to spell mess by saying “Your room is a M-E-S-S mess!” My dad taught

me what the word tomorrow means.

I also like my dad because he lets me stay in his bed with him while

he’s watching TV. I think my dad is better than the yummiest chocolate in

the world . . . and TV. He is my hero!

PAIGE ANDERSON

My dad is a hero because he loves and cares about my family. He

teaches me about a lot of things. He is funny and buys me a lot of

things. He works to make the payments and to buy us supplies.

My dad brings us on voyages and to far, far away places. He also

brings us to operas, tennis matches and to numbers of other places. He

stays home with me when I’m sick. He plays with me when I’m bored. He

even reads with me and makes crafts with me.

He tries to fix the house and make everyone happy. He even argues with

people to make us get what we want . . . . I love my dad. He’s my hero.

JULIEN CROCKETT

My dad is definitely a hero!! I think my dad is a hero because he is

ready to play games or go for a walk. I know I can count on him when I

feel bad. He will take days off of work and go on vacation. Some of the

places he takes me are water skiing, snow skiing, to the desert, to the

beach and to school.

My dad is also a hero because he has a cunning heart. My dad is also a

hero because he manages to keep four children loved and at the same time,

comfort the.

My dad is like an ultraviolet light shining down from the heavens to

watch over me and make me feel brave. My dad is also very unique. I

definitely love my dad!!!

CLAY FRIEND

There are a lot of heroes in the world, but none of them are as good

as my dad. He is there when I am lonely. He comforts me when I am sad. My

dad teaches me what is good and what is bad. When I am in danger, my dad

is there to save me and cure all of the bruises that are bad. My dad is

my hero. He has been helping me since I was zero. There are no heroes

like my dad.

JACK YEAGER