Father’s Day is not, in fact, just one day, as the “media” would have you believe. It is a week-long celebration of dads, rivaled only by Mardi Gras. But instead of boobs and screaming, there’s… actually that’s right too, boobs and screaming.

We’re calling it DAD-MIRATION WEEK…*

Father Flying

My father gave me the gift of flight. When I was small he’d take me up, my body straight in his hands and he’d fly me around. He’d even provide background music with the Superman theme “Du-da-duh, da-du-diddle-da-duuuh!” I loved it. More than I can say. Sometimes the feel of his hands holding me up would melt away and it was just me soaring, swooping and wheeling through the air. And sometimes his hands were very real, comforting to feel as I flew.

I’ve since made all my boys flyers. And because it was so special to me, I went further. My boys have had rocket boots as I lifted them up, they’ve ridden on T-rexes and tauntauns on my shoulders, swung like Tarzan and Spider-man from one arm to the other as I jogged along, they’ve marched forward in robo-armor, standing on my feet as my body wrapped theirs as a mechanized exoskeleton, and of course they’ve flown like a super hero as I did with my dad.

There was a point when I was still young, where I realized that I’d gotten big enough that I would probably never fly again with my dad, that it had already been years since the last time. It was a heavy realization for me, but I wasn’t sad. I had gotten to fly with my dad.

Dad-miration Contest Announcement!

Tomorrow (Tuesday, June 14th): We announce the details, the prize and start accepting submissions. Blam!

Thursday (Midnight, June 16th): Submissions are cut off and our panel of judges (Charlie, Andy and wives) choose the Top Ten.

Friday (June 17th): Top Ten are posted and voting is opened to anyone to decide the winner.

Sunday (June 19th): The winner and supreme overlord of the contest is announced!

Only one string attached, “Like” HowToBeADad on Facebook to qualify, so you might as well get it out of the way now. May the best human win!*