Here’s a little repurposed “Pub Chat” in honor of the weekend’s observance.

My dad, like many of you (or us, I suppose I should say), provided a ton of life lessons. He taught me many things over the years — some decidedly more important than others. With Father’s Day on the calendar tomorrow, I thought I would share some of his wisdom.

• Chopped up peaches go great in red wine. This is a tradition in the part of Italy where he was born, and if you don’t believe me, just try it, especially with the great peaches that are grown around here.

• Pickled hot cherry peppers are the key to pork and peppers. Dad liked heat in his food — the hotter, the better — and this was a dish he concocted that became legendary in our family. He made it every Friday, and aunts and uncles, friends and probably foes would come from near and far to eat it and sweat a little. Mom used to tell the story about one Friday evening when a blizzard closed down all the local streets. When Dad pulled out his frying pan to start cooking, she asked him what he was doing. “It’s Friday,” he said. “I have to make pork and peppers.” Exasperated, she replied, “Mike, no one is going to come tonight, it’s a blizzard outside.” Almost channeling a line from the movie “Field of Dreams” he said, “Oh, they’ll come.” About 10 minutes later, my Uncle Sandy pulled up on his Arctic Cat snowmobile. Followed by the next-door neighbor, shaking heavy flakes off his coat. One by one or two by two, all the regulars indeed showed up and soon were sitting around the table digging in, while........

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