Fifty years ago this spring we planted kohlrabi together in a garden in Charles City, Iowa.

I didn’t know then that I would remember that day for the rest of my life. This week, we’ll plant kohlrabi together again, perhaps for the last time but I hope not. I don’t understand why planting kohlrabi with you is so important to me but it is. And the funny thing about it is, well, I don’t know quite how to tell you this, Dad...I don’t even like kohlrabi...but I like planting it with you.

I guess what I’m trying to say, Dad, is what every son and daughter wants to say to their Dad today. Honoring a Father on Father’s Day is about more than a Dad who brings home a paycheck, shares a dinner table, and attends school functions, graduations, and weddings. It isn’t even so much about kohlrabi, ’54 Chevrolets, and fly-fishing. It’s more about unconditionally loving children who are snotty and stubborn, who know everything and won’t listen to anyone. It’s about respect and sharing and acceptance and tolerance and giving and taking. It’s about loving someone more than words can say，and it’s wishing that it never had to end.

I love you, Dad.

五十年前的一个春天，我们在依阿华州查理斯市的一个花园一起栽下苤蓝菜。

当时我也不知道我以后会怀念那一天。这一周，我们还要在一起栽苤蓝菜，这是第二次。也许，这是最后一次，可我并不希望那样。我不明白为什么我和您一起栽苤蓝菜我会感到很有意义，可事实上就有意义。而且，关于这个，有个有意思的事情，可我不知道该怎么和您说这事，爸爸…… 我不喜欢苤蓝菜……但是，我却喜欢和您一起栽苤蓝菜。

爸爸，我想我想要说的话是每个作儿女的今天想和他们爸爸要说的话。过“父亲节”，给父亲这么一个大的荣誉，决不是因为爸爸给家里挣多少钱，和家人一起共进晚餐，参加学校活动，参加毕业典礼和婚礼的原因，也不止是一起栽苤蓝菜，开雪拂兰’54车和飞蝇钓鱼的事，也不止是您毫无理由地爱那些流鼻涕又很淘气，而且什么都懂，就是不听话的小孩。这就是尊重对方，分享快乐，认同和忍受他人，给予和接受吧，您对别人的爱也是不能用言语来表达的，希望这些永不终止。

爸爸，我爱您……