"My father taught me that, along with the drip pan, new oil and filter, have a stack of rags on hand when changing the oil in the car. My father taught me to give a firm handshake, how to to store filled water balloons in a bucket of water so they don't pop before you're ready to use them, and that paper plates and paper cups can be rinsed and re-used and that paper towels can be removed from the trash to dry and use again if they've only been used to wipe water off of clean hands. This has been fun to think through - thanks for the idea!
Dianne Aguilera
Ellicott City

I am the only son of a  (now deceased) Baltimore City Fire Department captain.  My dad was a singer of homemade ditties.  He would constantly make them up, incorporating subjects relating to our family as the days went on, blending a mixture of old ('30's & '40's) standards, church hymns and newer ('60's) songs. I speak to my oldest sister every other Sunday and we take turns answering the phone with one of dad's ditties, some of which the other may have forgotten.  My guess is that the message was: :"Thingss can never be so bad that you can't sing a song."  I tend to sing my own made-up songs, although my repertoire is not as extensive (or creative) as dad's!  . . . The other thing that dad, a lifelong Democrat, always impressed upon me, when it came time to vote in either local or national elections:  Pick the candidate whose views and policies you agree with -- REGARDLESS OF PARTY AFFILIATION."
David Heise, Sr.

My father (Milton S. King) gave me the gift of optimism. He woke up each day with discovery. He taught me to love travel, new experiences, sharing  and to love people. I was his light and he was my shining star. In the late 50's he and my mother divorced, I was 9. He was granted full custody of me. Years after he was married again, my stepfamily thought my name was "Mylinda" as that is how he referred to me.  He has been gone for 22 years, but not a day goes by that I don't share his beliefs! Thank you for giving me this opportunity to share my thoughts.
Linda A. Foster 

My father taught me that the best way to influence others is to never tell them what they should do. When I decided to major in political science in college, my Dad never told me I should take up accounting, or something useful like that.  A lot of years have passed by since then and, ironically, I'm an accountant now.  Which leads me to the second most important thing my Dad taught me, never say "I told you so".
Karen Richmond
Baltimore

The most important things I learned from my dad, Ralph deRosa, of Niagara Falls, N.Y., were: How to live life with integrity, honor, and his Catholic faith, and how to die with dignity, strength, peace and faith in his God. My father taught his seven children and 18 grandchildren the importance of love and respect in this world. He was surrounded for the last three years of his life, when he was bedridden from a stroke and gradually lost all of his abilities to walk and talk, by his wife and family. Throughout his 86 years on this Earth, he taught us how to live by his example of generosity and unselfishness. Happy Fathers Day, Dad.  We miss you.
Linda Boehman
Frederick

HAVE PRIDE IN YOUR HERITAGE.  Growing up, Dad tortured us with listening to Polish music every Sunday morning.  We would beg for him to change the radio channel. My brother and I were dragged to polka lessons at St. Casmir's growing up. I consider it now one of my fondest childhood memories. . . . Dad taught me to TAKE THE TIME TO LEARN FAMILY TRADITIONS SO ONE DAY YOU CAN PASS THEM ON TO YOUR OWN FAMILY.  Dad was one of a family of five boys and two girls.  He was the only one to learn many of the Polish recipes his mother once made (and) continue to share them today. Today, holidays would not be the same had Dad not taken the time to learn these things.  . . . Dad has shown me the importance of maintaining physical activity into adulthood.  It benefits one's entire self physically, mentally, and in his case, financially (both he and my brother referee rec lacrosse and football).
Jennifer Cieslak
Cockeysville