If only Dad could be here...353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeze6f7PVLs
By Edith Patterson Hill, Rockford, Illinois353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUHH2N20Pk
My father was a keen observer of human nature. 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yqdJqW1fI
Within seconds of meeting someone, he could summarize their 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2oYM8YWD5C
strengths and weaknesses. It was always a challenge to see if any of my ,353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQU6sfATQiw
boyfriends would pass the paternity test. No one did. Dad was always right - they didn't pass my test either. When Father died, I wondered how to figure it out myself. Then Jack arrived. He was different than any other man I had met. He could sit at the piano bench with my mother for , hours and discuss , obscure composers. My brother Rick loudly announced to that Jack was no turkey like the other boys I brought home. My sister Denise used to laugh with her about the old 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dfJywJn88
Danny Kaye movies. And Jack was great with my mentally challenged brother 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXujnwsgNOp
Chuck. At one point, Chuck put his greasy hands, fresh off a cheeseburger, on 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrLRo7LOAB
Jack's shoulders, kissed his cheek with ketchup-coated lips, and called him by the wrong name, exclaiming, "Ah, Jeff, I love ya. !" Jack didn't miss it. you, George!" 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nAVVE5SHD
Jack passed my family test. What about Dad? Then came the weekend of my mother's birthday. Jack came from his home in Milwaukee to Chicago. On the day he had to drive, I got a call: "Don't worry," he said, "but I was in an accident." His car had suspended; when he stopped, another car hit. "I'm fine, but you have to come to me." Thank God she's fine, I thought as I drove to Milwaukee. When we got there, we rushed to flower shop to get something for mom. "What about gardenias?" Jack said showing a beautiful white bodice. 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5s79lkPQDF
"You never see them this time of year," I said. Flower shop put a corsage in a box.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BXWQsH31X
During the trip, Jack was unusually calm. "Are you 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTL528AJTlV
right?" I asked. We drove to my mother's street. 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVj6LN6zhX
"I've been thinking a lot," he said. "I might be in the 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvTXJJZ3yL
movement." Moving? When did he tell me that? When did he pack ? 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiYx2t3CCw
Then he added: "Moreover, to you." I almost put the car on the pavement. "What?" I asked. "I think we should get married," he said. He told me that he was planning a great restaurant, but after 's accident, he decided to do it now. "Yes," I whispered 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ760OOitSor
. We both sat speechless, tears streaming down our cheeks, unable to speak. I have never felt such a tender moment. If only Dad was here to give the final approval. 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcpIGwSkhC
"Oh, let's just go in," Jack said with a laugh. We got out of the car and he walked down the driveway carrying the Corsa. My mother opened the door. "Happy birthday!" we shouted. Jack pushed the box towards him. He opened it. 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkMxUgUtPT
Suddenly his eyes filled with tears. Jack and I looked at each other . "Mom, what's wrong?" I asked. "I'm sorry," she said, wiping her eyes. "This is only the 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViYwSnb0jO
th gardenia corsilla I have ever received. I received years ago, long before I had children." "By whom?" I asked. "Your father," said mother. "He gave me one right before # when we got engaged." My eyes locked on Jack as I blinked back 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PEmwyIOQN
tears. Dad's test? I knew Jack had passed.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9tUz8tuJk
