Dad

Sometimes he says very little.

Sometimes he'll strike up a conversation with a total stranger in line at the checkout at ACO Hardware.

He'll always give you money, even when you don't ask.

He'll hug you when your first boyfriend dumps you and breaks your heart.

He'll comfort you when your maternal grandma dies.

He'll sit in the room with the family's cat, Samantha, at the vet's when she gets put to sleep because you and your mom can't.

He cried when Samantha, his buddy, was gone.

He always has suggestions for shelving or organizing or renovations in your apartment.

He'll build you a wine rack.

He has an appreciation for and will talk endlessly about glass and collecting glass.

He appreciates a good joke.

He taught high school for 42 years.

When you were a kid you would sit in silence in the basement with him while he worked on his stained glass while listening to classical music.

He doesn't see eye to eye with you on politics and you've learned to not discuss such topics.

He loves jazz music.

If you ask him about Oscar Peterson, he will burn you all his OP cds.

He makes really good guacamole.

He taught you how to field and throw a softball.

You realize that you and he have similar traits...and that's not such a bad thing.

You love him, because he'll always be your dad.