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Today, we honor our fathers. So I'll start out by honoring the fathers in my life.
For my dad, who I love dearly, even if he is a wingnut. He's a passionate man, and one who holds very strongly to his beliefs. He still wonders what the hell he did wrong, to raise two such liberal daughters. (We tell him that he's a glutton for punishment, because he married a wickedly smart liberal lady - and believe me, my stepmom keeps him on his toes.) Family dinners are always interesting!
For my father in law, who traveled the country for years in the 60's, educating people about what NASA did. He drove a lab on wheels called "The Space Lab" to universities and to auditoriums all over the country to deliver his lectures. After his job with NASA, he returned to teaching middle school and eventually high school science. Sadly, within just a few years after he retired, he was diagnosed with a rare degenerative disease. He continues to blow his doctors away with how well he's doing, and exceeds everybody's expectations on a regular basis. He has shown both my husband and me amazing lessons in acceptance, grace and dignity.
For my stepdad, who today took part in a 1K race for Pulmonary Rehab patients. Pretty damned impressive for a man who spent 9 days in intensive care on a ventilator just over a month ago! Talk about a lesson in determination!
For my daughter's dad, who, while not my best match, is a rock star dad to our kid and to his fiancee's two teenagers - and who will be a great dad to the baby he and his fiancee have on the way.
And for my husband, my honey, who has been a wonderful stepdad to my daughter. He taught her to ride her bicycle (with me managing to get photographic evidence even as I hid my eyes behind my hands). She constantly reminds me that he's the cool parent because he races bicycles and motorcycles.
Finally, a couple of words for a really great father in my life, who left us last month. My uncle, who fought his battle with diabetes with an incredible measure of dignity and grace, and who faced the end of his battle with the same.
So what about you guys? Leave your tribute to the dads in your life in the comments. :)
From Dem in the heart of Texas:
This comment by Mehdique, touched my heart. It is in the diary "Her Name Was Neda".
From dconrad:
Avian flu and zombies are enjoyable? lurkersince03 brings the funny with a laugh-out-loud rejoinder.
Brilliant!
From Cassandra Waites:
This comment by ActivistGuy in jamie ahmad's diary regarding the Iranian election is priceless.
From BeninSC:
Do you think Michael Steele deserves the ridicule he sometimes experiences? If so you may enjoy decembersue's comment, here. :)
entlord1 calls out Kristoff on sustainable agriculture in this fine comment.
From brillig:
What in my gut makes me believe voter fraud occurred in Iran? Trobone knows.
From bwren:
In tonight's Brothers and Sisters JaxDem tells us of the lessons his father gave to him. A sweet and loving tribute, one that makes me wish that all children could have such role models.
My picks:
nonnie9999 made me lol with this comment. The graphic is classic!
This comment by testvet6778 is spot on regarding the cost of war when taken in context of Father's Day. It's from JeNoCo's heartbreaking IGTNT diary.
In nyceve's diary, xxdr zombiexx goes on a righteous rant about the debacle that is managed health care.
Top Mojo is brought to you tonight by the superstupendous brillig! Thanks, brillig!
Top 30 (plus ties) Comments excluding tip jars, first comments and stuff:
1) God bless you, Al Rodgers by noweasels — 154
2) No advice, just by anastasia p — 153
3) Thanks for the links & commentary by Edgewater — 124
4) Neda by Scarce — 110
5) I'm right there with you Colorado by Brubs — 108
6) Hikes in MICHIGAN? 44%? by inclusiveheart — 97
7) i have no words by mdmslle — 96
8) I am shocked. I had no clue that you were by awcomeon — 89
9) I think your best rally point would be Unions by RANT — 89
10) The Regime is Showing its True Colors by JekyllnHyde — 85
11) Pernicious! by AaronBa — 82
12) You're being a little.... by Corwin Weber — 80
13) "I Was Beaten For Taking Photographs" by Rimjob — 76
14) I really do not think the by FrankCornish — 74
15) It's like these people just live by blackwaterdog — 74
16) Organizing the progressive infrastructure by Dallasdoc — 68
17) I was THERE at Joe's lecture last night! by MT Spaces — 67
18) Word. by Colorado is the Shiznit — 67
19) Just Don't Buy Any Ice Cream by JekyllnHyde — 66
20) I got laid! It was so good, by InfinityLincoln — 64
21) Great suggestions by James Protzman — 61
22) LOL! by Brubs — 60
23) A few years ago... by ratmach — 59
24) I don't believe so by NonnyO — 58
25) Gotta love Reagan by MarciaJ720 — 58
26) Much love to you, my friend. by Colorado is the Shiznit — 58
27) I honestly feel like some of the Senate Democrats by askew — 58
28) Senator Feinstein, go get the votes. by alasmoses — 57
29) Amen noweasels by dansk47 — 56
30) My God by MBNYC — 55
31) Tick, Tock Motherfuckers. by Eryk — 55
32) women by docstymie — 55
33) When is the last time you cooked your own food? by indubitably — 55
Top 30 Comments with no exclusions, aka the Tip Jar list :-):
1) Tip Jar by Troutfishing — 652
2) Tip Jar by Al Rodgers — 601
3) Tip Jar by Meteor Blades — 467
4) No advice, tonight, OK? by Colorado is the Shiznit — 447
5) Tip Jar by James Protzman — 293
6) Tip Jar by nyceve — 291
7) Tip Jar by JesseCW — 241
8) Tip Jar by kiwiheart — 202
9) Tip Jar by askew — 182
10) Tip Jar by jamie ahmad — 172
11) Tip Jar by icebergslim — 163
12) God bless you, Al Rodgers by noweasels — 154
13) No advice, just by anastasia p — 153
14) Tip Jar by slinkerwink — 138
15) Thanks for the links & commentary by Edgewater — 124
16) Neda by Scarce — 110
17) I'm right there with you Colorado by Brubs — 108
18) Sugar TIPS by Trix — 104
19) Hikes in MICHIGAN? 44%? by inclusiveheart — 97
20) Tips for scientific analysis by FishOutofWater — 97
21) i have no words by mdmslle — 96
22) I am shocked. I had no clue that you were by awcomeon — 89
23) I think your best rally point would be Unions by RANT — 89
24) Tip Jar by JeNoCo — 89
25) The Regime is Showing its True Colors by JekyllnHyde — 85
26) Pernicious! by AaronBa — 82
27) You're being a little.... by Corwin Weber — 80
28) A modern poem about trees by teacherken — 76
29) "I Was Beaten For Taking Photographs" by Rimjob — 76
30) I really do not think the by FrankCornish — 74
31) It's like these people just live by blackwaterdog — 74
32) Happy Fathers Day! by noweasels — 74