Now, anyone who knows me at all knows that I have a fairly eclectic taste in music. Just flipping through my MP3's on random I get - Ramones, Eurythmics, Django Reinhardt, Dead Kennedys, Louis Prima, Crystal Method, Def Leppard and Pete Seeger.

But one musical style that has always left me cold is...Country and/or Western. Something about it just sets my teeth on edge and makes me cringe. Maybe it's the steel lap guitar or the TWANGY vocals but I can't STAND country.

But on to the story. About five years ago, I heard a story on the local morning radio show about some new country song that was SO SAD, it was causing people to get into car wrecks because they were crying so hard. Well of course my first thought was - "What a bunch of dumb rednecks."

So a few weeks later, Megan and I are driving down to see her parents in southwestern Missouri. Well, any of you who have taken a road trip out of Chicago knows that when you get about two hours south of the suburbs, your choice of radio stations become - Hardcore Christian or Hardcore Country with a smattering of classic rock stations to cleanse the palate.

We're driving along, and the DJ says the name of the next song and I tell Megan "This is that dumb song I told you about! The one that's making the rednecks cry!"

For those of you who haven't heard it - here are the lyrics.

I'll be back in a minute.

He Didn't Have to Be
Brad Paisley

When a single mom goes out on a date with somebody new
It always winds up feeling more like a job interview
My momma used to wonder if she'd ever meet someone
Who wouldn't find out about me and then turn around and run

I met the man I call my dad when I was five years old
He took my mom out to a movie and for once I got to go
A few months later I remember lying there in bed
I overheard him pop the question and prayed that she'd say yes

And then all of a sudden
Oh, it seemed so strange to me
How we went from something's missing
To a family
Lookin' back all I can say
About all the things he did for me
Is I hope I'm at least half the dad
That he didn't have to be

I met the girl that's now my wife about three years ago
We had the perfect marriage but we wanted somethin' more
Now here I stand surrounded by our family and friends
Crowded 'round the nursery window as they bring the baby in

And now all of a sudden
Oh, it seemed so strange to me
How we've gone from something's missing
To a family
Lookin' through the glass I think about the man
That's standin' next to me
And I hope I'm at least half the dad
That he didn't have to be

Lookin' back all I can say
About all the things he did for me
Is I hope I'm at least half the dad
That he didn't have to be
Yeah, I hope I'm at least half the dad
That he didn't have to be
Because he didn't have to be
You know he didn't have to be

Deep breath.

For those of you that don't know - this song is basically my story too. My real dad left when I was around five and my mom had a few boyfriends but met my dad when I was 10 and they got married. He adopted me shortly thereafter and raised me as his son. So I'm listening to this song and I don't think any song has ever rang so true for me before or touched me SO deeply before.

And I bawled.

Like a baby.

We're talking full body sobbing.

Not out of sadness, but out of sheer love and appreciation for my dad.

So Megan is all concerned and I'm trying to tell her in between sobs that I'm not sad - I'm happy! But it all comes out as snot-soaked crying. So we turn off the radio and it takes me about ten minutes to compose myself. I heave a huge sigh and turn the radio back on and change the station - just in time to hear it again.

And I started crying all over again.

I ended up giving my dad the CD for Christmas and played it for him so he knew just how special he is to me. And on the eve of my first Father's Day - I am again struck with the very sincere hope that I can be half the dad that he didn't have to be.

That is the best thing I could ever give my son.

I love you, Dad.

Happy Father's Day.