So many graduations the past week and it seems the high school graduations of last-born or only children takes on a special poignancy. It’s not only a transition time for the young adult launching toward independence, but a first step into a new parenting reality for those about to become empty-nesters.

Most surprising to me was that a line of greeting cards has not been introduced for just such a milestone. I would have bought and sent a few this week.

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Father’s Day evokes thoughts and memories of my own father as well as the father that fate and providence brought into the lives of my three daughters in 1986 when Bert and I were married. Three daughters, two of whom were teenagers, created a ready-made family and no shortage of teen angst and drama.

But through it all for three decades, Bert has loved unconditionally these daughters of ours. He wasn’t there at their birth but has been their North Star through every important milestone and crossroad. For every man who has loved and raised their children by marriage, blessings tenfold. I’m convinced there’s a special place in heaven for you all. Happy Father’s Day!

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What I will most recall of that life-changing day when this “Daddy’s Girl” lost her dad over a decade ago, is that I hadn’t really lost my dad at all. I have a lifetime of memories and lessons learned, not the least of which is that through selfless giving, the circle of life is unbroken. In life, my father gave blood regularly for decades, his name appearing on the donor wall at the Inland Northwest Blood Center. In death he was an organ donor, his corneas giving sight. It pleases me beyond words to know that somewhere out there, two people are viewing the wonders of the everyday world through my father’s eyes. In my heart of hearts I hope that one of the recipients is a daddy, able to see the love in his own daughter’s eyes this Father’s Day.

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Tonight is the Hayden Chamber Business Expo for the public to come see great local businesses. It runs 4-7 p.m. at the former Peak Fitness in the Prairie Shopping Center. Free to all.

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My husband and no doubt a lot of men are looking for an epic gearhead Father’s Day weekend. Car d’Lane Friday night cruise and Saturday swap meet and show, and the collector car auction at The Coeur d’Alene Resort. On Father’s Day the Hauser Lake Lions Club is cooking up breakfast at the fire house from 7 a.m. to noon, Spirit Lake hosts the annual Big Back In lawn mower drag races on Maine Street at 11 a.m .and the Post Falls Community Volunteers barbecue at 2 p.m. followed by the Blue Mustangs for a free concert to celebrate fathers and summer at Q’emiln Park at 3 p.m.

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Happy birthday today to Sharon Bruno, Jody Piper, Jeffrey Benjamin (60!), John McMurray, Richard Wegner, Taylor Brockhoff, Bob Friske, John Hopper and Joe Hutchinson.

June 16 is the birthday of Tim Shepperd, Jay Troy, Taylor Brockhoff, Bill Dick, Desiree Barclift, Darick Pope, Brenda Gabriel, Frank Bybee, Stephen Parmentier, Shelly Cunnington (50!), Richard Wegner and Rebecca Morelli.

On Friday Raydeane Owens, Jim Foote, Susan Reilly, Vicky Houle, Brenda Gabriel, Jesse Bishop, Leigh Cossette, Jennifer Smith and Dana Scholwinski take another trip around the sun.

Jim Hammond, Wanda McLean, Katy Meeks and Sean Watson will celebrate on Saturday.

On Father’s Day, Jim Morrison, Jake Capaul, Jennifer Smock, Kelly Gwinn, Doug Harwood, Jerry Riggs, Mel Swatzenberg, Genia Wortman, Lauren Hoffman, Sue Shibley, Bill Cope, Twyla Cope and Joey Flood will blow out the candles.

Kristen Enders, Christi Fleischman, Daniel Davis, Sherin Diehl, Mark Appleby and Eva Jones are getting their party on come Monday.

Born on June 21, Wayne Newby, Jaymee Paul, Lynda Pym, David Wold, Shirley Bade, Randy Watkins, Kelly Rice, L.C. Schell and Stephen Larson are marking their birthdays and the official first day of summer.

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Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri can be contacted on Facebook or via email mainstreet@cdapress.com. Follow her on Twitter @kerrithoreson.