Happy Fathers Day!

Happy Fathers Day to all the men in my life. Especially to my hubby, brother, uncles, nephews and friends. But most importantly this day is special because of my own Father. He passed in 2005 from Alzheimers, but he is always remembered on this day. What can I say about my Dad?
(1) He was first and foremost a husband, Dad, Grandfather and friend.
(2) He was always there to talk to when I needed someone to listen.
(3) He never compromised values, but stood for what was right and ethical. His greatest vice--smoking.
(4) He came from that "greatest generation" that Tom Brokaw wrote about.
(5) Dad could "pinch a penny and make Lincoln cry" I would always say.
(6) He was a good provider. When he passed, we said that "my Dad was the gift that keeps on giving". He made sure my Mom was taken care of even after his passing. He always planned ahead for the "rainy day".
(7) He taught me how to fish.
(8) He always had an orchard both in MI and AL. What a difference between the states in what you can grow.
(9) He planted a garden as long as he was able.
(10) He was never wasteful. He would pull nails out of boards and put them in mason jars just in case he needed them for a future day. He would stack the wood in his shed for another rainy day of need.
(11) He always put his work clothes in the laundry room. My Mom never had to pick up after him.
(12) He liked a good cup of coffee.
(13) His favorite cookies were what we like to call oreos but were vanilla on one side and chocolate on the other filled with creme in the center. He really liked cookies.
(14) Chocolate was another favorite. He liked chocolate covered Cherries and Hershey's Kisses. He was always content with having just one or two and then savoring the rest over a long period of time.
(15) Licorice was another favorite candy.
(16) His favorite other drinks were creme soda, root beer or ginger ale (Vernors).
(17) He was a farmer at heart, but machinist by trade.
(18) He would say he was a "jack of all trades, a master of none". There was really nothing that he couldn't fix.
(19) He was a grandfather. He loved all of his grandchildren equally and was a great influence on his two granddaughters in AL. They called him "Pops".
(20) He wore a billed baseball-like cap always and drove a pick-up truck (his last vehicle).
I could ramble on and on and on about my Dad, but it would become a book. These are a few things I remember most about my Dad that I don't mind sharing with the world.
I hope you like the picture I have selected for this day. It was when he was in the Coast Guard and is the best representation of what my Dad looked like day-to-day except the uniform changed from khaki to navy blue (work clothes).