eyeDEEclaire, your father sounds like mine! I'd think you were my sister, but my father is now deceased, so, I know it's not the same father.
however, even in the other 'plane', daddy eats junk food. he was known as the ol' choc-a-holic king! he always had candy wrappers all around him, and always smelled of chocolate.
and, he still comes back, convincing my mom to make his favorite candies and cakes. she'll call me and say, "I don't know what came over me, but I just had to make "insert one of daddy's favorites here* today and thought of your father the whole time!"
anyway, the 9 of cups also reminds me of someone I know well, who feels the need to 'keep up with the Jones'. they don't have a lot of money, but will do whatever it takes to appear they have a lot--and beg, borrow (not steal, TG) to keep that appearance up.
bought way too much house for themselves, because it was 'the NICE neighborhood, where people who have money live'.
buy a new car every other year, tho they have a hard time keeping up the payments, because it would be terribly embarrassing to keep the same car for more then 2yrs.
I get this card for that person often, when I read for them. I can't help but to think of them now, when it pops up-tho, I know it doesn't ONLY mean this. but, you know how after awhile a certain card will just MAKE you think of a specific person you know???