My Favorite Memory With Dad

At first, the idea of asking Patch readers to choose a favorite memory with their father seemed a bit unfair. For me, there were just too many. There was learning to spit sunflower seeds at baseball games as a kid. Then there was catching anything but fish off the North Carolina coast each summer. (I had an incredible knack for reeling in eels and old sneakers.) But as I strolled down memory lane, sure enough, I found a favorite.

It didn't happen on a certain day, but over dozens of them. They were mostly spread over my teenage years, that time when I'd thought I had pretty much nothing in common with my dad even as he drove me to and from soccer games every weekend.

Spending so much time in the car together, control over the radio became a constant battle. Finally, my dad came up with a rule: I got to play one song then he got to play one song. I got another one, then he got one. The result was that our rides ended up sounding something like this: 'N Sync, then Van Halen; Mariah Carey, then Paul Simon; Third Eye Blind, then The Who.

It didn't take me long to figure out I'd been duped. Turns out his classic rock songs lasted much longer than my pop songs, and I'd rarely get more than two picks each ride. Cruising with the windows down and the Grateful Dead blaring, the more my dad's songs dragged on, the harder he laughed at my disdain.

Somehow I always ended up laughing, too. We had more in common than I had realized. We still do. Today, those ridiculously long songs are some of my favorites.

Trying to pick a favorite memory with my dad was fun. It's a pretty perfect way to celebrate Father's Day this year. Judging by the amazing memories our readers shared with us, we think you'll agree. So, go ahead. Take a minute.

Without any further ado, here are some of your amazing memories with Dad, along with an especially touching Father's Day tribute video from one Patch reader in New Jersey.

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My father, Ret. USAF Colonel Marvin Weed, traveled a lot with the military and served twice in Vietnam. When he was home, he made sure he and I had adventurous times together. The photo above (circa 1968) is of us after fishing for Large Mouth Bass in Gatun Lake in the Panama Canal. He was an acclaimed pilot and taught thousands of people to fly. His mom said the first word he ever spoke was "airplane."

I miss him every day. I drive by the cemetery he's in every day. And there's not a single day he and I don't have a brief conversation about life and what's going on. My father was an amazing man, many fathers are amazing men, and I'm glad I knew my father and that he loved me unconditionally.

—Thad Weed, Loganville, GA

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When I was little, I was afraid of some of the bully kids in our neighborhood. When my Dad would walk down our street with me, holding my hand, it made me feel so safe. He seemed so tall and I felt so happy and full of pride that I felt my heart would burst. Although he is no longer here, I hold that memory and his love in my heart.

—Nancylee White, Vienna, VA

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My Dad, who was a cop, often came across as a tough guy. But one summer, when I was 11, I went to the local library and made him a t-shirt with liquid paint. I chose a flowery pattern that I loved thinking he would never wear it. Looking at some old pictures my cousin found, I saw one where he was wearing the t-shirt. He's gone now, but I love to look at that picture and know that he was a softy after all.

—Diane Durette, Charlestown, MA

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When I was younger, my Dad worked the evening shift for the LIRR. I would always try and stay awake to see him when he got home from work, but I rarely was able to stay up. My favorite memories are those of the snowy winter nights when my dad would get home from work and wake me and my brother up so we could all take a walk outside in the snow. It was always amazing to walk the snowy streets of our neighborhood when we were the only ones awake. It felt like there was nobody in the world except us.

—Katie Betuel, Brookhaven, NY

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My favorite memory with Dad was bringing him to Pittsburgh for a Giants vs. Steelers football game in 2008. He was a Steelers fan. I am a Giants fan. The Giants won that game. The next day we got to tour the stadium. He got to run out of the tunnel and sit in the locker room. My dad passed away in 2014. I went this past year and took one of his "Terrible Towels" with me. The Steelers won.

—Debbie Clark, Long Branch, NJ

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This memory is not with my dad, it is with my son. I was a single mom, so raising a son and showing him "man" things is a little difficult. But a few Father's Days back, my oldest son told me, "I don't need a dad with a mom like you." It melted my heart. As I see him with his daughters I am proud of the father he has become.

—Brenda, Desert Hot Springs, CA

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My dad passed away when I was young. One of the sweetest memories I have of him is when he would give me manicures when I was little. This tough, Italian man painting his little girl's nails. I had three older brothers so getting this type of attention was very special. It makes my heart smile to this day.

—Donna Filosa, Islip, NY

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Having him walk me down the aisle. Seeing his face when I met him at the church is a memory I will cherish the rest of my life. He hugged me so tight and held my hand the whole way to the altar. It's my most beautiful memory. I love you, Dad.

—Mindy Wirzberger, Bensalem, PA

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I actually don't have a memory of my father. He passed away from brain cancer in his early 30s. I was less than 2. I have other people's memories. He grew up in Red Bank and was the son of a Red Bank cop. I just moved here about a year ago. Something about the town drew me here. He left me with his friends, his family, and his artwork. He left me with people who were reflections of his best parts to help me grow and discover who I am. I guess this wasn't quite the response you were looking for. My memories are other people's memories. They are filled with love, peacefulness, protection, and laughter.

—Rebeccah Newman, Red Bank, NJ

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September 29, 1990. My old man took me to the last night game at Comiskey Park. Born and raised in Oak Forest on the far south side, I was raised into the Southsiders. Dad took me to a lot of games in the early years, but this one was special. That night the energy was electric and the place was sold out. But nothing I have seen before just in movies or on TV. The stadium went dark and the only thing you could see were the policemen sitting on their horses around the entire field lit up by the famous lolly pops on the scoreboard. Then it happened in a blink of the eye. They blew out all the rooftop lights (just like in "Field of Dreams") and the fireworks just kept going with that. I was only 11 at the time, but I remember that like it was yesterday. Like all kids, I have a ton of great memories with my Dad. But this one was special, really special. Dad, you're awesome!

—Brian Botica, Yorkville, IL

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Going to stores when I was younger, my Dad used to throw loose change in front of me so I would think I found money. It took me a while to realize he was doing it and I wasn't just lucky and finding money in every store. My Dad is 81 years old today and is awesome! Turns out I was lucky after all. He has always been there for me for 47 years.

—Jen Giovanniello Becker, Southold, NY

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When just my Dad and I went hiking together up Bear Mountain when I was in middle school. We hiked to the top of the mountain, exploring and learning about nature. We set up a tent and camped over night. A huge thunderstorm came through and we were both awake and scared, but we kept reassuring each other the morning will be here soon enough. The next morning was beautiful and we had an amazing hike back down.

—Katelyn Reeves, East Meadow, NY

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My favorite memory was when I saw my first Broadway play last year with my Dad, at the age of 44. It was also his first Broadway play at the age of 74! We saw "The Lion King" and spent the day in New York City. I will never forget that day.

—Christine Fusco, Smithville, NJ

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We lost our Mom when she was in her early 40s and my poor Dad had to deal with two teenage girls alone. He had the best sense of humor and was ready for anything except when his two young women turned 21. When we thought we planned a party behind his back, he was always one step ahead of us and surprised us by coming home early. But he always ended up staying and enjoying any party we threw. He was Mom and Dad to the two of us for years, and my friends still talk about how fun he was, along with his dance moves. We miss him terribly, our "Pop Pop."

—Bridget Ingraham, Schwenksville, PA

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Going to the local diner for pancakes every Saturday morning.

—Joanna Vaughn, Holland, NY

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When I was a little girl my Dad use to live near the Bird mansion. It was one of our favorite places. We would empty out coffee tins and collect wild blueberries and raspberries together around the property. Then he would make up silly songs and play his harmonica while our hands turned purple from eating all the berries. He knew how to make anyone laugh and was loved by so many. I'll never forget our berry picking days!

—Erin E Keefe, Norwood, MA

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My dad is my uncle. He has stepped in where I didn't have a father figure. While fishing one day I had tangled my line and being my first time fishing in years, I tried to hide behind a small tree. I could see my dad on the other side of the lake. I worked on that fishing line it seemed like hours. Finally when I looked up, my dad wasn't on the other side of the lake. I looked around to see if he had moved down to another spot, but he had appeared right by my side. He looked at my mess I had in my hands. I waited for him to yell, but he didn't yell at all. He pulled out his knife and said sometimes you have to cut the line and start over. I've taken those words to mean so much in my life. When life seems messed up, there is always a way to fix it.

—Ernie Bolen, Oswego, NY

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Him taking me, my sister and the neighborhood kids out for ice cream... With his tractor. He attached two small wagons to it and got a license plate so that he could drive us around town on hot summer nights. We had one of those great neighborhoods where we all played outside together, and it was always a thrill to hear my father fire up the tractor and shout across the yards, "Who wants to go for ice cream?!" Even though we lived in the suburbs of Salem, New Hampshire, he would don a cowboy hat and sunglasses, and ride proudly with us kids in tow. It was a very bumpy ride on pavement, but we loved every minute of these adventures.

—Marie Yang, Framingham, MA

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My father and mother were both WWII vets. When they married, my mother was a Captain and my father was a First Lieutenant. After the war, they settled in California and my mother's salary was much higher than his. But what impresses me most, in hindsight, was that unlike most men of his generation, the disparity between him and my mother didn't bother him. I like to think that I've inherited his enlightened view of male and female relations.

—Dr. J. Michael Korff, Arlington, VA

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When I was little, my Dad would take me to the park in the fall to collect the prettiest colored leaves. We always found the most perfect ones.

—Christine Albrecht, Hatboro, PA

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My Dad brought to see The Monkees at Boston Garden in 1967 for my 13th birthday. It was my first concert. The summer of 2001, The Monkees did a concert at the Hatch Shell in Boston. I asked my Dad if he wanted to go with me, but he laughed and said once was enough. I bought him a t-shirt that night and when he passed this past January, I put the t-shirt in with him. Love & miss you, Dad. Happy Father's Day.

—Mary, Massachusetts

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And last, but very not least, a touching story submitted by Jen Devine in Hackettstown, New Jersey:

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Thank you, Jen, and all the Patch readers that contributed to our Father's Day tribute. We're honored to share your stories today. Happy Father's Day!