The vintage picture of my parents was taken on their wedding day. Dad was handsome and dashing (and a barnstorming dare devil), Mom the homebody. They made a good pair. I knew if I wanted my dad he would be in the garage restoring an Alpha Romeo Spider or building a pontoon boat if he wasn’t performing an annual inspection on someone’s aircraft. He didn’t own an airplane himself – he couldn’t afford it – but he loved to work on an engine and had secured every certificate the FAA offered except commercial pilot. He had a private pilot’s license and HAD to see if the plane flew correctly after his maintenance. I have no idea how many times I heard him say “Open her up and let’s see what she’ll do!” And he did.
I sit writing a blog while the father of my children also has his lap top open. What he is browsing is anyone’s guess, but we have learned to run a marriage that way. We allow the other to be themselves. He became a father much too early, but he was probably more excited about it than I was in the beginning. Unlike my father if the kids wanted theirs he was probably on the radio. I took my babies to press boxes and remember saying “Shush, Daddy is on the air.” And they would. 
My son has become a stepfather in the last few years. I am sure stepping into a half-grown kid’s life when you’ve never been a father yourself is not easy. But he wouldn’t have it any other way. He loves the kids and the role. If he is wanted, he too will be in the garage but his will have surround-sound music and an air conditioner. He spent a lot of time with my father and loves to restore old vehicles, but he does it with more pizazz.
I look at three generations of fathers and see how each did it differently and wonder how my grandson will handle the job. He is quiet and gentle most of the time and like his uncle always surrounded by music.
The job of father has changed over the years but it is still the same in many ways. They love their children and will do what is necessary for them. Even if it means they don’t get to do all the things they want to do. Kids come first,.
I’m grateful to have been around so many wonderful fathers. Tell me about the fathers in your life.
Peggy Chambers "Views from the Hammock" site 
Happy Father’s Day to all the Dad’s everywhere. My wonderful husband of 46+ years was a complete surprise. I am another facet of Peggy’s life. Our father kept hopping for a boy, although he loved his girls. I was more tomboy than girl and I so wanted to fill that void for Dad. I was the one in the garage handing Dad tools and coming in the back door looking more like a Greasemonkey than a girl. My Mom was terrified I would grow up more boy than girl. Dad was never the kind that remembered birthdays…often including his own, but if he saw or heard of someone needing help he was always the one to pitch in.
When I fell in love with Chuck I was very surprised that he was very unlike my Dad. He knew nothing about mechanics, he adored baseball and bowling, and short of washing out a dirty diaper he loved every facet of Fatherhood. He was true Sicilian. He had been born #1 son of 10 children so he did nothing wrong. In true Sicilian form there was no end he wouldn’t go to for anything his children wanted. When our son married it was obvious that he was a chip off the old block. Family was his primary goal.
All of these Father’s may have had different backgrounds, from salt of the earth Arkansas to 1st and 2nd generation Sicilian. Although different, all came with a central core desire – to provide All that was possible for their children.
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