Today is Father’s Day, the *official* day set aside to show all the dad’s in the world our love and appreciation for all the hard work that goes into rearing us wayward children. 🙂

Today, after I made my round of calls and sent off a few notes via text, I got to thinking the great fictional fathers that exist in our hearts and imaginations.  Which naturally lead me to pose this question to myself: For whatever reason, who are your top 3  favorite fictional fathers and/or father figures?

1. Dumbledore
While Dumbledore had his faults, I appreciate how he encouraged Harry’s faith & confidence in himself.  As Headmaster he couldn’t be seen publicly encouraging Harry to skirt the rules, play his haunches, or follow dangerous trails that ultimately  lead to people getting injured  or dying.  But Dumbledore has his covert ways of arranging things in the backgroud that allowed Harry  the means and opportunity to develop into the man who, did indeed, rid his world of the one of the greatest evils it had seen.

2. Andy Taylor
No explanation needed.  What’s not to love about a hard working single parent that takes the time teach his son morals and integrity not only via instruction, but by living what he preached.  Not to mention he made sure to take time for his son with fishing trips and a little music on the front porch occasionally.

3. Clark W. Griswold
Sure, Clark may be a little misguided from time to time, he may not be the best planner in the world (as evidenced by many a failed vacation trips), and he may exhibit questionable parenting skills from time to time (e.g. Strapping his dead aunt to the roof of the car and driving her at her son’s house–OR my personal fav– going on a raging cussing tirade on Christmas Eve in front of the entire family.) But his heart is alway in the right place.  Clark just wants provide the best for his family in terms of experiences and life style, but he is always cognizant of the fact that spending quality time with his wife and kids is the most important thing.

Who are your top 3?  And remember, no judging.  I mean, I did include a guy who worked to keep his mentee safe, just so he could die at the right time, and another that left his dead aunt, in the rain I might add, on her son’s doorstep. 🙂