When I offered my readers a chance to win a Home Depot gift card, I didn’t expect so many people to come out and share so many great memories. There are truly some great dads out there and I feel better knowing so many of you will have those memories forever!

Congrats to Crystal S, my random winner. (Send me your contact info, lady!)

Here are some of the comments moms left, edited for space:

“My Dad and I were a lot closer during my young childhood but when I think of my Dad now I think of us simply just reading together. Him reading to me those few nights, making the silly voices and us giggling together was priceless. It’s such a simple memory but it still brings smiles nearly 20 years later.”

“My dad taught me to cook my first dish–scrambled eggs–at age six. I thought they were the yummiest thing EVER! Made them everyday for about a month. He helped me make and eat them everytime, though in hindsight I know he was probably totally sick of them by day 4.”

“My Dad would travel from our home in Queens over an hour to our favorite bakery in the Bronx and buy us a strawberry shortcake. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water. ”

“My favorite memory though is from when I was about 7 or 8. I had the stomach flu and couldn’t keep anything down. My mom couldn’t get off of work to take care of me, so my dad (in the navy at the time) stayed home to take care of me. He fed me chicken noodle soup and stayed with me in my room all day until my mom got home.”

“The first time I ever danced with my father was at my wedding. Somehow I was able to savage my makeup during the dance. But, I will always remember that dance as a transition from being “daddy’s little girl” to a wife. ”

“Driving with my dad from Tallahassee, Fl to Baltimore, Md. Absolutely the best time I’ve ever had with him. He drove the Penske truck full of my stuff while I drove my car. When we arrived in Baltimore at midnight he drove home and went to work the next morning. The world’s greatest dad!”

“My Dad is soo excited right now-I am expecting his first grandchild and probably only one in the next couple weeks. He can’t be here for the birth as he is unable to travel right now but told me that knowing he ius going to be a “grandpa” has totally changed his attitude and he has started taking better care of himself so he can travel when he is better.” 

“My favorite memories of my dad were when he taught me how to drive — at the ripe age of 14! Before I even had a learner’s permit, he had me out on the highway learning to change lanes. He took me to an old industrial park and used trash cans as parked cars, but I still never got the hang of parallel parking. I guess it was valuable for more than memories, because I’ve never had so much as a parking ticket.”

“Well, funny you should mention it, but among my favorite memories of my dad is his pancakes, but they were Saturday morning and always tasted of a hint of banana and were the size of the plate yum, you’re making me want one!”