I think it?s time to call him Dad, need ideas

I want a creative way to announce to my stepfather that I feel he?s earned the title of Dad.
When I was 23, my father suddenly died. He was sick the majority of my life, and had been married to my mother for 28 years, they were highschool sweethearts.
When I was 25, my mother started dating a wonderful man. He was a divorcee, and had had stepchildren who were over 18 before.
One day, he took me and my elder brother out to lunch with plans to go to the movies afterward. I believe he wanted to take us somewhere fancy, but my brother and I opted for a practical meal at Subway.
During our meal, he told us that he never intended to replace our father, but that he loved our mother and wanted to propose to her? but he wanted to know how we felt first.
We were both agreed, and we told our stepfather-to-be that we wanted to skip the movies and help him shop for a ring.
He did tell us that he never expected us to call him dad either.
I?m 37 now, and they?ve been together for 12 years. Not married yet, but they?re happy and that?s all I care about.
Yesterday, my mother suffered a serious fall and if my stepfather hadn?t been there neither would my mom today. She has a broken neck and ribs.
If not for his quick action and military medical training, my mom might have been paralyzed or lost her life.
Since they are not married, the hospital was not giving him much information about my mom?s condition. He was beside himself with worry, and when I contacted him he was in tears.
I leapt into action to get him information about my mother?s condition and notified the hospital that he was not only was he her fianc?, but the one who called 911 and the one who started first aid. He even refused the first responder (a cop) in his demand to move my mother. (Which I can?t believe the cop actually suggested, first aid 101 is to never move a person who has fallen... but I digress.) The nurses started answering his questions and he even was able to see her in the hospital last night after waiting for 12 hours anxiously, not knowing what was happening with her.
He called me on his way to see her and vented his frustration to me, letting slip that ?If not for my daughter...?
I was deeply touched.
Calling my stepfather ?Dad? is something I?ve debated doing for about 3 years. I feel like I?m ready to call him Dad.
We live thousands of miles apart in separate states, and especially with Covid, it?s not something I can tell him in person.
TL;DR! I would love some creative ways to tell him I want to call him Dad, to show him how I feel. I think it?s time. Are there any stepdads out there who can help me find a meaningful way to mark this milestone in my relationship with my Dad?


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