I read an interesting Raycom News Network report this week that Father’s Day spending could hit $15.3 billion this year for the first time.

The report also said more than 75 percent of Americans would celebrate and spend an average of $133 per person. That’s a lot of love for dad.

It makes sense because I’m a big fan of my dad and I like doing things for him. If I could buy him anything, I’d buy him a couple of knees that worked. If he were more mobile, however, it could take away from some of his favorite pastimes — afternoon judge shows, Braves baseball and keeping tabs on the neighborhood from the comfort of the couch.

I think my parents are two of the greatest people alive. My mom’s a saint, but my dad is what you might call a “character.” He’s so much of a “character,” my wife shivers a little when she notices I’ve done or said something my dad might do or say.

I’ve picked up my share of bad habits from dear ol’ dad. I’m what you might call an angry driver with a propensity to use profanity. It’s a learned behavior from riding with my dad, who never shied away from calling someone a ———- or a ———— when behind the wheel; hence the reason such words now seem like a familiar second language.

My sister took him to the grocery store several months back. He verbally assaulted two older women who he thought were taking too long to choose their strawberries.

“What are you, ——- strawberry inspectors?” he asked.

My sister was mortified, but it seemed like an appropriate question to me.

A few months later, my nephew brought forth a report that “paw-paw” had tried to run over a utility worker. Dad said it was the utility worker’s fault because he wouldn’t get out of the way.

Most recently, dad visited the doctor where he was given three words to remember as part of an Alzheimer’s test — automobile, banana and chair. When the nurse asked him to repeat the words later, he could only remember two of them.

Ever since, he’s been administering the test to everyone, from family members to random strangers. He was at a Jacksonville State baseball game a couple of weeks ago and presented a woman with the three words. When he saw her later and asked her to repeat the words back to him, she replied with, “Eeny, meeny, miny, moe, leave me alone!”

Dad’s favorite social blunder, or at least the one he’s most proud of, occurred the night of my wedding, eight years ago. High on wedding spirit (or beer), he asked the uniformed man outside the hotel who won the Huntsville Stars game that night.

I should point out dad mistook the man’s uniform for that of a bus driver. Incensed, the man pointing to a set of wings on his lapel. “I FLY PLANES!” said the pilot, to which my dad replied, “Whatever buddy.”

There are other things I’m sure I picked up from my dad — appreciation for comfortable recliners, classic country music, whiskey and the occasional inappropriate joke.

My dad takes his share of ribbing from the family, but he’s also a good, Christian man. He’s faithfully in church each Sunday and he’s probably given as much money to others as he’s made.

I’ve had friends and acquaintances throughout my life who have had poor relationships with their dads. There were times, especially during my hormonal teenage years, my dad and I didn’t always see eye-to-eye on things, but he was always there for me when I needed him. I’m very thankful and fortunate he’s still around to make me laugh and my long-suffering mother groan.

Happy Father’s Day, dad. You are one of a kind and then some.

I’d like to wish a safe and happy Father’s Day to all the other dads out there.

Editor Adam Smith can be reached at adam@athensnews-courier.com.