Today Dads of all sorts are recognized for their sacrifices, struggles, and contributions to making us who we are. The coverage of Tim Russert's untimely death focuses on the importance of fatherhood. Being a Dad and having a Dad are not always easy but where would we be without him? Today I miss Dad, who passed away on Christmas Eve 2006 at age 89; yet I think about him not with sadness but with affection and appreciation. I'll call Mom, hearty and 92 on June 17, to reminisce about what a good husband and father he was. Not everyone has a father you remember fondly- sometimes you're able to find that good father in someone else. Tim, though not loved by all, was undoubtedly a surrogate father for many. Criticism of the media for too much coverage of Tim's death is misguided, out of touch with a certain reality. It's not the media indulging itself- the ones who miss him need that coverage to help get through the loss. Barack Obama is that kind of man, too. Even the most hardened of Clinton supporters must have felt deep down that a guy who loves his two daughters so much can't be all that bad. So here's to the good fathers we have, the good fathers we had, and the good fathers we turned to when we didn't have one of our own.