I just wanted to take a moment to recognize everyone here who has performed a Father-like role to a child, whether you fit the classical father stereotype or not. If now or over the past year or even in years gone by a child has been able to depend on you to be there for them when he or she needed you, day in and day out. Whether they needed you emotional, physically, financially or in some other way that isn't coming to mind at the moment, thank you for being there.
Thank you as well for doing your best to attempt to instill love and respect for all people, compassion for those that are going through hard times, and a willingness to help their fellow citizens of Mother Earth. Thank you for helping to teach them to value reason and science as well as creativity and art.
Thank you for standing in and being there when you wanted to run away to escape the craziness, or thank you for holding your tongue when you wanted to say something in anger that you would later regret. Thank you as well for apologizing and saying I love you, after those times you didn't hold your tongue.
Finally thank you for doing your best to raise a new generation of involved and caring and intelligent young men and women who will inherit a truly messed up but still beautiful world. And just maybe have the tools, the energy, and the drive to be able to clean and to fix and to nurture the world into a better place.
Happy Father's Day!