Written by Sam on Father’s Day 2013

Just like that, busy with work and away from the TV and radio ads, it crept up on me this year. But, as the weekend began, so did the flood of Father’s Day Facebook statuses and Tweets. 

Oh, right…

Yesterday, I found myself chatting with Julie while standing in refrigerated section of Trader Joe’s. In true Cocktail-Party-Effect fashion, I managed to overhear a nearby shopper’s phone conversation. They needed to buy a Father’s Day card.

Though I froze for only a second, it was a second that I noticed. And as I returned my attention to the cheese options in front of me, I zeroed in on something I haven’t purchased in years: circle cheese (commonly referred to as “Mini Babybel”).

A smile spread across my face and memories slide-showed through my head, as I instantly placed the cheese in my basket and continued shopping.

Later, after putting away my groceries, I grabbed a piece of cheese from the fridge and headed toward my bed. Simply peeling the wax from the cheese transported me to a night at our rented family beach house about 15 years ago.

Cranky from a day in the sun and desperately craving mini Babybel’s, my sister, cousin, and I pled with our parents to go to the store to buy us some. It was a cheese emergency, after all, and we were clearly unaware that the frozen margaritas and card-game marathon yielded our parents less than sober and more than preoccupied. Despite the apologetic no’s, our whining persisted before giving way to our creative “WE WANT CIRCLE CHEESE! WE WANT CIRCLE CHEESE” chant.

Finally, my dad stood up and headed to the fridge. Curious, we followed suit. Swiftly pulling out a pack of American slice singles and a glass from the cabinet, he got to work using the glass in lieu of a cookie cutter. 

Moments later, he proudly presented us with a plate full of “circle cheese,” which we promptly shoved into our mouths. Almost immediately, we began begging my dad for more of his ingenious creation. His solution? To convince us that inside-out circle cheese (AKA the square with a hole cut out) was also all the rage. Needless to say, he succeeded.

And so, today – as with most days – I celebrate my dad’s love and the memories he gave me. I celebrate the people – both new and old – who have been there for me. And, I celebrate cheese.