Goggin: Great dads earn thanks

Tom Jr. eagerly tore open the turquoise envelope addressed to him in his daddy's handwriting. I had been asked to give it to him once we were on the road to summer camp. Just the two of us would make the drive to the North Carolina coast, and I was giddy with excitement. I heard the tear of paper from the back seat and a multicolored bead art heart fell onto Tom's lap as he read the square note card enclosed. "Dear Tom, you once gave me this 'heart' to remind me of your love for me when we were apart. Now I give it back to you so that you can remember how much I love you while you are away - Love, Daddy." Tears swelled in my eyes as Tom handed me the card to read. Wow. I was speechless.

Moments like that are what I call lifetime memories. Sometimes they take us by surprise - but when they happen, you never forget it.

John Brantley, founder of JTB communications and father of three sons - Drew, 26, Tyler, 23, and Chase, 16 - understands the challenges of finding uninterrupted quality time in the busy age we all live in. Inspired to help fathers and sons reconnect led him and Drew to create "B.A.M" (Becoming a Man) weekend retreats for fathers and sons (www.bamadventures.net.)

A friend, Clark Brown, participated in the program with 16-year-old son C.J. and could not say enough positive things about the weekend.

"I recommend it highly to anyone. An adventure with your son and the opportunity to spend time and talk and be together without distractions is priceless."

When I called the Browns to ask about Clark and C.J.'s B.A.M. experience, I got mom, Stacy, on the line first. Fun, funny and full of creative ideas, she and I were on the phone 25 minutes before I remembered I had called to speak to her husband.

During the conversation, I did ask Stacy about the B.A.M. weekend, and she dittoed Clark's feedback.

Laughing, she said the highlight was the homemade