Father’s Day: 2012, what memories a day like this can open for us. Being a father has to have its hassles, a load of expense and a certain amount of frustrations. Fatherhood, like motherhood, can’t all be happy times, but enough of them are. It’s one of those things, that once you’ve been given it, no one can ever take it away. It changes your life forever.

My father and my children’s father, our sons and son-in-law were and are great fathers. I don’t know if it was by example, or just good luck, but they were always there when needed and also made the extra effort to be there for their children. Too many fathers are too busy holding down a job and doing their own thing that they forget the responsibility of fatherhood. A person can neglect a job, but the responsibilities of molding a human life shouldn’t be neglected. I’ve heard too many people say their fathers weren’t around when they were needed – how sad.

Our dad should be the one we can turn to when things get out of control. He should be the example on how to cope. After all he’s managed pretty well, so far. The one thing I think many children forget to say is a simple – “Thank-you, Dad.”

On a special day is a good time to get out the grill and even Mom can cook on the grill, even though in most households it is the man of the house that thinks he has to handle the job. So if he decides he’s going to grill, Mom can do the extras. I’ve found when you want to have a complete meal on the grill, wrap baking potatoes in heavy foil and put on the grill, or add two tablespoons of butter or margarine to the package of frozen vegetables and wrap tightly in aluminum foil. Place the packet on the grill over hot coals and cook ten minutes on each side-easy and delicious.

Something that can be done ahead of time is to marinate the meat you are going to grill. Here are two simple marinades I use.

BASIC MARINADE

1/2 cup salad oil

1/2 cup lemon juice.

1 1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon garlic salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

TERIYAKI MARINADE

1 Tablespoon brown

sugar

1 teaspoon ginger

1/8 teaspoon garlic

powder

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/2 cup pineapple juice

1/2 cup salad oil

Marinate at least 4 to 6 hours in the refrigerator or overnight. Discard the marinate and don’t use for basting.

“Hero” can be spelled with three letters-“DAD”