My Dad's pancakes

When I was a kid, my father would "treat" us by making his pancakes every once and a while.  Now, you must understand that my father came from a time where most men where the only bread winners of the household and most women were stay at home Moms.  My father never really cooked.  So, that being said, those pancake mornings usually ended up being a disaster.  My Dad only used two settings on the stove...OFF and HI so as a result,  we were fed a blackened circular object that was almost as hard as the plate it was on but all the while remaining liquid in the very center.  To top it all off, the mess which was left behind in kitchen was enough to make the most seasoned sanitation worker cringe.

Needless to say, when my Dad offered to make us breakfast, the rest of us would do whatever we could to discourage him from rising up to the challenge.  The kids didn't really want those black discs and Mom did not want to spend half the day cleaning up the mess which was innevitabely left behind.  We tried very hard to get around these 'special' days without hurting my Dad's feelings (afterall, his intentions were good and we could not doubt that) and eventually he got the message.  The pancake mornings stopped.

Well, last year, on this very day, my father passed away.  He was 85 but I still feel that he left us too soon.  I still need so much advice on how to be a great Dad like he was.  What should I do?  How should I do it?  So many things I would like to ask but now will never get the chance.

Besides...I could really go for some of his pancakes right about now.

Love ya Dad!