[Dan in Pasadena]

Here, here. A toast to our fathers. Too often the recipients of a lot of criticism and grief even though they are every bit as important as out beloved mothers.

My Dad died at age 66 in 1990 after 20 years of large and small heart attacks and strokes. He was an impatient man who could be cruel when he was angry. It was only when I got near middle age that I felt I began to understand; if not entirely forgive, some of his actions. Ironically, the heart disease that ultimately took his life, first took his anger. He mellowed a great deal as the disease and its effects progressed.