I used to know what to give my dad for father’s day: a new hammock for the backyard. The squirrels would chew through the ropes of all the previous hammocks and tons of children and adults would play, read, and fall asleep in them, leading to their eventual deterioration in just a summer. But then, a few years ago, we found a hammock that has miraculously stayed alive.

As a result, I don’t really have a concrete idea what to give him.

So I’m giving him this blog post. And a list of my favorite memories with him. Because, after all, memories are worth a whole lot more than something that money can buy.

1. Making bubbles from scratch for a birthday party.

2. When I was in preschool, standing in my dad’s shoes and him standing “in” (more like on) my itty bitty ones.

3. Reading The Chronicles of Narnia together before school each morning.

4.Carpooling to and from my high school each day. Mornings would be sleepy and quiet. Afternoons could be loud and somewhat crazy.

5. Getting The Poems of Emily Dickinson for Christmas and examining them together.

6. Going on a hike and riding on his shoulders.

7. Falling asleep on the couch and getting carried to my room.

8.  Drawing at the duck pond and getting sprayed on by the sprinklers.

9. Him teasing me about living in my spare room when I’m a famous author.

10. Setting up this blog.

I love you so much, Dad!

And as a very cute kid at the park told his dad as I passed them, happy daddy’s day to you!

Happy daddy’s day to all the father’s out there.