Dad

1972 was the year that saw breakthroughs in science and technology – the start of the space shuttle program in the US, programming languages, calculator, the first cable subscription service (HBO), video games.

Prominent among these major tech events – well, to the majority of us now basking in the computing world - was being able to communicate with each other through the computer and the beginnings of the Internet (known at that time as Arpanet).

1972 was also the year that Father’s Day was proclaimed a national holiday by former US President Nixon, although six years before that another former US President (Lyndon Johnson) had declared the 3rd Sunday of June to be Father’s Day.

The event’s legitimization as a holiday in the US happened after 100 years of lobbying by civic, trade and church groups to honor all fathers – not just mothers - on a special day. It has since then spawned yearly celebrations across the world that even the corporate world never missed observing because it touched an emotional chord in every man, woman and child.

We all have to thank Sonora Dodd of Washington who in 1909, came up with the idea of celebrating Father’s Day, as a tribute to her dad and all dads. You see, when she was only 16, Sonora’s mom died and her father – a Civil War veteran – took care of all his six children. Not much has changed 100 years ago. There is a Sonora in all of us who will try to find many ways to kick off Father’s Day celebration.

As we get closer to D Day, why not make use of the global info flowing freely through the Internet into our computers to help us decide correctly and quickly what we can do for our Dads.

Treating him to dinner, buying him personalized Happy Father’s Day gifts, looking for the best iPAD deals or arranging a surprise delivery of a stationary bike that will keep him fit, may just bring one or two happy tears to his eyes, the man we all know will stand by his family for life.