If only Dad could be here...433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1P0MswyUuU
By Edith Patterson Hill, Rockford, Illinois433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVjKyYf85n
My father was a keen observer of human nature. 433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4P2BPQ2D05
Within seconds of meeting someone, he could summarize their 433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mvZCCyUc4
strengths and weaknesses. It was always a challenge to see if any of my ,433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wb1HL078B
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 433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtezNOVO4JO
Danny Kaye movies. And Jack was great with my mentally challenged brother 433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapPm51Pzdp
Chuck. At one point, Chuck put his greasy hands, fresh off a cheeseburger, on 433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwci6CKk6c
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!" 433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5dFlHC6Gk
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. 433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FloKnsl81
"You never see them this time of year," I said. Flower shop put a corsage in a box.433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Iha427Vbi
During the trip, Jack was unusually calm. "Are you 433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDf0jTNpN0
right?" I asked. We drove to my mother's street. 433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOa8F1ldUsZ
"I've been thinking a lot," he said. "I might be in the 433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zrXoaudhL
movement." Moving? When did he tell me that? When did he pack ? 433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4E23Nvu9AG
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 433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRjJoWt0cG
. 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. 433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sVE6QaRno
"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. 433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXHS0Bw6ti
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 433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5COkNjboXC
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 433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujjRFBMi5p
tears. Dad's test? I knew Jack had passed.433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjXPB2dSmu
