Father's Day... So is it Just a Normal Day?

 

Father's Day rolls around every year, and I always find myself asking a funny question.

I'm not a father.

My dad passed away a long time ago.

So... does that make Father's Day just another normal day?

Technically, maybe.

But life has a funny way of making you realize that some days aren't about checking a box on a calendar.

When I was younger, Father's Day meant trying to figure out what to buy. Was it a coffee mug? A tie he'd never wear? Another flashlight he definitely didn't need because he already had twenty-seven of them hidden somewhere in the garage?

Dads had a special talent for collecting things that nobody else understood.

One screwdriver for every possible situation.

A coffee can full of random screws.

Three extension cords tied into a knot that looked impossible to undo.

And somehow, they knew exactly where everything was.

"Hand me that thing over there."

"What thing?"

"You know... the thing."

And somehow, after thirty seconds of looking, they'd find it immediately.

Magic.

Now, with my father gone and me not being a dad myself, Father's Day can feel a little strange.

The stores are full of giant signs reminding everyone to buy steaks, grills, and socks.

And there I am thinking, "Well, I guess I can buy myself a burger."

At first, it feels like a regular Sunday.

But then memories start showing up uninvited.

The lessons.

The stories.

The little sayings.

The things you didn't appreciate when you were younger but somehow repeat as an adult without even realizing it.

One day you wake up and catch yourself saying, "Don't leave the lights on; we're not paying to light up the neighborhood."

Then you stop and laugh.

Because suddenly, your dad is right there in that moment.

Maybe Father's Day isn't only for fathers.

Maybe it's a day to appreciate the people who helped build who we are.

A day to remember the hard workers.

The fixers.

The protectors.

The teachers.

The men who probably never wanted a big celebration anyway.

Most dads would probably say, "Don't spend money on me."

Then they'd secretly smile if you did.

So is Father's Day just a normal day for me?

Not really.

It's a quieter day now.

A day that reminds me that even though someone may be gone, pieces of them still stick around.

Sometimes in your habits.

Sometimes in your work ethic.

Sometimes in the goofy things you say.

And sometimes when you suddenly become extremely interested in organizing a bucket full of old screws.

Funny how that works.

So if you're celebrating with your dad today, enjoy it.

If you're a father, enjoy it.

And if you're like me and neither applies anymore, maybe it's simply a day to smile at the memories and appreciate the people who helped shape your life.

Besides, if our dads could see us now, they'd probably say the same thing they always did.

"Quit overthinking it."

Then they'd laugh and ask where their missing screwdriver went.

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