For Father's Day, I got my dad a brand new smart thermostat.

He thanked me, then spent the rest of the day setting it to the exact same temperature it was before, just with more authority.

My dad's favorite Father's Day tradition is

spending the whole day in the backyard, not because he loves the family gathering, but because it's the one day a year he can use the lawn as an excuse to buy a new lawn mower.

My dad was never one for big, flowery speeches or elaborate displays of affection.

But every time I left his house, he'd send me off with a full tank of gas and a quiet, "Wouldn't want you to get stuck." It wasn't just about the fuel; it was his always-there way of saying, "I've got your back, no matter where you're headed."

My dad spent all Saturday in the garage, and when I asked him what he was working on, he said

nothing, just maintaining a 20-year relationship with his toolbox